The Washington Capitals continue to set the pace in the NHL’s Eastern Conference during the 2024-25 campaign. Washington further marked their domination this year with a 4-3 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night, extending their conference lead to 10 points.
Washington’s new double-digit lead in the East is aided by their 6-3 win over the second-place Florida Panthers on Tuesday. Florida (69 points) is the only team exactly 10 points behind Washington (79 points). The Toronto Maple Leafs (68 points), Carolina Hurricanes (68 points), and New Jersey Devils (66 points) sit third, fourth, and fifth in the East standings respectively.
The Capitals have this big lead despite playing the fewest number of games, 54, among those five clubs.
With the win, Washington also extended their lead in the Metropolitan Division to 11 points. The Capitals entered the night nine points ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes but gained the additional two points after the Hurricanes lost in regulation to the Minnesota Wild.
Washington also still holds a game in hand over Carolina. The Devils, third in the Metro, are 13 points behind the Capitals and have already played two more games than Washington. The 13 points separating the two teams, both in playoff spots, is the same lead the Devils have in the division over the seventh-place Pittsburgh Penguins (53 points). Pittsburgh is eight points out of a playoff spot overall.
In the overall league standings, the Capitals are also in first, matching the Winnipeg Jets in points (79) but with a better points percentage. Winnipeg can move ahead of the Capitals with a win against the New York Islanders on Friday night.
The Capitals are on pace for 120 standings points, which would be tied for the second-most in franchise history. Only the 2009-10 Capitals, 121 points, have recorded more in a single season.
If the Capitals take care of business against the Utah Hockey Club on Sunday afternoon, they can jump ahead of Winnipeg’s possible lead and maintain their double-digit advantages in the East and Metro heading into the 4 Nations Face-Off break.
Washington will enter Sunday’s game on a five-game point streak (3-0-2) and an even longer 14-game home point streak (10-0-4). They have not lost in regulation at Capital One Arena since taking a 3-2 loss to the Devils on November 23.
