Washington Capitals Power Rankings - 2012-13
| Power Ranking | ||||
| WEEK | RECORD | RANK | COMMENT | |
| Week 15 | 27-18-3 | 6 | The Caps never let up, even after they'd come out of nowhere to lock up the Southeast Division. Alexander Ovechkin, the NHL's goal-scoring leader, gets full value for his Hart Trophy chatter. | |
| Week 14 | 25-18-2 | 6 | What a remarkable turnaround for the Caps, who have gone 10-1-1 in their past 11 to assume the top position in the Southeast. Alex Ovechkin has been stunning in his late-season bid for the Rocket Richard Trophy and the Hart Trophy discussion as league MVP. | |
| Week 13 | 23-17-2 | 10 | The sizzling Caps don't want April to end, considering a perfect 7-0-0 this month. They have a big week ahead with a home tilt against Toronto followed by road games in Ottawa and Montreal. | |
| Week 12 | 20-17-2 | 15 | The Capitals have surged to the top of the Southeast with an 8-1-1 run, including Sunday's comeback win over Tampa. It was another big night for Alex Ovechkin, who scored two more to raise his season total to 25 and into a tie with Steven Stamkos for the league lead. | |
| Week 11 | 16-17-2 | 20 | The Caps had won six of nine, but blowing a two-goal lead in Philadelphia and then losing in overtime Sunday will sting and that point may end up being a costly one. | |
| Week 10 | 15-16-1 | 13 | A dramatic rise up the rankings! The Caps are playing their best hockey of the season and find themselves just two points out of a playoff spot. | |
| Week 9 | 12-15-1 | 28 | The Caps responded to a desultory 4-1 loss to Boston on Saturday with a 5-3 win over hapless Buffalo on Sunday. Still, they need to find a way to beat someone other than the conference's weak sisters to prove they're not truly cooked. | |
| Week 8 | 10-13-1 | 25 | Weekend losses to the Islanders and Rangers provided a reality check: The hole was dug too deep earlier this season. | |
| Week 7 | 8-11-1 | 24 | There are signs of a slight resurgence in Washington but the Caps need to string together four or five to prove they're getting Adam Oates' message and to put some pressure on the Canes. | |
| Week 6 | 6-10-1 | 27 | Alex Ovechkin with a hat trick! Man, remember when those were common? | |
| Week 5 | 5-9-1 | 25 | The Caps' 2-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Sunday stopped a season-best three-game winning streak during which they averaged five goals a game. Still, 11 points has them tied for last place in the conference with Winnipeg. | |
| Week 4 | 3-8-1 | 30 | George McPhee's Friday gathering with media, in which he expressed his frustration, did the trick: The Caps hammered the Panthers the next day. But there's a long road to go. | |
| Week 3 | 2-6-1 | 30 | The Capitals did not follow up a big win over Philadelphia on Friday with much of an effort Sunday against Pittsburgh. The Caps have a league-worst minus-12 goal differential. | |
| Week 2 | 1-3-1 | 27 | Adam Oates' new system is a good one, but it takes time to learn, especially with no preseason. Patience, Caps fans. | |
| Week 1 | 0-0-0 | 12 | We expect big things from Adam Oates behind the Caps' bench, and Nicklas Backstrom's insistence that he is healthy and ready to go is a huge bonus. Interesting battle shaping up in goal between Michal Neuvirth and playoff hero Braden Holtby. | |
| Preseason | 0-0-0 | 17 | I actually like the Mike Ribeiro addition more than most people; I think GM George McPhee found a nice No. 2 fit there. But I remain unsure about the goaltending and, like everyone else in the hockey world, I am curious to see which version of Alex Ovechkin shows up. | |
| Spring Training | 0-0-0 | 14 | Rookie head coach Adam Oates, the third bench boss in less than a year in Washington, must maintain the team's new defensive mentality while coaxing more creativity from a talented lineup. Getting Alex Ovechkin back in some sort of offensive groove (assuming he doesn't hide out in some KHL cave after the lockout) will be paramount, but the Caps should be at or near the top of the Southeast. | |
