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John Carlson's remarkable endurance and longevity in the NHL have earned him widespread admiration from his peers. Despite being 34 years old, Carlson has played more hockey than anyone in the league this season, averaging nearly 26 minutes of ice time per game for the Washington Capitals.Carlson's teammates from the 2014 Sochi Olympics, where he played alongside Patrick Kane, attribute his durability to his exceptional hockey sense and ability to perform all aspects of the game. James van Riemsdyk, now with Boston, believes Carlson's "elite" understanding of the game allows him to be highly efficient and conserve energy.Veteran Max Pacioretty compares Carlson to Hall of Famer Nicklas Lidstrom, noting his ability to use his energy wisely and avoid unnecessary exertion. Retired defenseman Brooks Orpik, who played with Carlson on the 2018 Stanley Cup-winning Capitals, believes Carlson has become more selective in his physical play as he has aged.Despite being known for his offensive prowess, Carlson's defensive acumen is often overlooked. Ryan Callahan, a former opponent, recalls Carlson's physicality and ability to disrupt opponents in front of the net. Kevin Shattenkirk, a former teammate, praises Carlson's consistency and ability to perform under pressure.T.J. Oshie, who has played with Carlson since 2015, believes he has always had the potential to be a mainstay in Washington. Carlson's ability to play nearly 30 minutes in a crucial victory against Detroit on Tuesday demonstrates his unwavering endurance.Carlson's teammates and opponents alike marvel at his ability to maintain a high level of play despite his age and heavy workload. His exceptional hockey sense, efficient use of energy, and unwavering consistency have made him an indispensable asset to the Capitals and a respected figure throughout the NHL.

Toronto's Maple Leafs emerged victorious over the Washington Capitals 5-1 on Thursday night, fueled by Tyler Bertuzzi's two goals and Joseph Woll's impressive performance in net.Bertuzzi, who has now scored six goals in his last seven games, opened the scoring for Toronto in the second period, followed by a goal from Mark Giordano, who returned to action after a lengthy injury absence. Conner Dewar and Bobby McMann also contributed goals to the Maple Leafs' tally.Washington's lone goal came from Nic Dowd, while Charlie Lindgren made 43 saves in a valiant effort. The Capitals, who are battling for a playoff spot, fell to 36-27-9 with the loss.Woll, who had struggled in his previous two starts, rebounded with a solid performance, making 24 saves and helping Toronto improve to 41-22-9.Despite missing top-line winger Mitch Marner and several key defensemen due to injuries, the Maple Leafs managed to secure the win. Auston Matthews, the NHL's leading goal scorer, played for Toronto despite missing the morning skate due to illness.Giordano, the oldest player in the league at age 40, scored his first goal in 31 games, a poignant moment as he celebrated by pointing to the sky in honor of his late father.Bertuzzi's second goal of the night came off a turnover with less than 10 minutes remaining, sealing the victory for Toronto.

Alex Ovechkin's recent scoring surge has propelled the Washington Capitals back into playoff contention. The Russian superstar netted two goals against the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday, reaching 26 goals for the season and fueling Washington's 3-0 victory.Ovechkin's offensive explosion has coincided with the Capitals' recent resurgence. After scoring just eight goals in his first 43 games, he has now tallied eight goals in his last five outings. This hot streak has reignited talk of Ovechkin breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record, as he now trails the legendary scorer by 46 goals.The Capitals' victory over the Jets was a testament to their newfound offensive prowess. After a scoreless first period, John Carlson broke the deadlock with a power-play goal just over a minute into the third period. Ovechkin then added two goals in quick succession, securing the win for Washington.While Ovechkin's goalscoring exploits stole the headlines, the Capitals' victory was also due in large part to the stellar play of goaltender Charlie Lindgren. Lindgren stopped all 27 shots he faced, outdueling Connor Hellebuyck, one of the frontrunners for the Vezina Trophy.The Capitals' victory moved them into the second and final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, ahead of the Detroit Red Wings. However, the race for the playoffs remains tight, with the Capitals just one point ahead of the Red Wings and two points behind the Philadelphia Flyers.The Capitals will face a pivotal showdown with the Red Wings on Tuesday night, a game that could determine who remains in playoff contention. The Jets, meanwhile, will host the Edmonton Oilers and reigning MVP Connor McDavid on Tuesday night.

In a thrilling encounter that could shape the Eastern Conference playoff race, the Washington Capitals rallied from a 4-2 deficit to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes 7-6 in a shootout on Friday night.Sonny Milano stole the show with his first NHL hat trick, including a remarkable goal where he juggled the puck on his stick and batted it into the net. Alex Ovechkin continued his scoring tear with his 846th career goal, moving him closer to Wayne Gretzky's all-time record.The Capitals' comeback was sparked by John Carlson's goal early in the third period, followed by Connor McMichael's tally minutes later. Dylan Strome sealed the victory with the lone goal in the shootout.Carolina, who had won five straight games, was led by Sebastian Aho's hat trick. Jaccob Slavin, Brady Skjei, and Seth Jarvis also scored for the Hurricanes.Goaltender Charlie Lindgren was a key factor in the Capitals' victory, making seven saves in the third period and overtime after replacing Darcy Kuemper. Pyotr Kochetkov allowed six goals on 25 shots for Carolina.The win moves the Capitals one point behind Detroit for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and two points behind Philadelphia for third place in the Metropolitan Division. They have played one fewer game than both teams.Carolina, a potential first-round playoff opponent for Washington, suffered only their second loss since acquiring Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov at the trade deadline.Kuznetsov, who was traded from Washington to Carolina two weeks ago, received a standing ovation during and after an emotional video tribute.The Capitals were without injured forwards T.J. Oshie and Aliaksei Protas and played their first game without winger Tom Wilson, who is serving a six-game suspension.

Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson has been suspended for six games by the NHL's Department of Player Safety for a high-sticking incident involving Toronto Maple Leafs forward Noah Gregor. The suspension, which is tied for the longest handed out this season, stems from an incident late in Wednesday's game between the two teams.Wilson swung his stick in a "reckless fashion," striking Gregor in the face and drawing a double-minor penalty. The league's video announcing the suspension emphasized that Wilson's actions were "not related to any sort of legitimate hockey action" and that he is "accountable for the dangerous result of the play."This is the sixth time Wilson has been suspended since 2017, and his first since a seven-game ban for boarding in 2021. He has also been fined three times for various offenses. The suspension will cost Wilson $161,458 in salary and will sideline him for upcoming games against Winnipeg, Detroit, Toronto, Boston, and Buffalo.Wilson's absence is a significant blow to the Capitals, who are currently battling for a playoff spot. He is the team's All-Star representative and has 17 goals this season, third-most among remaining players after the trade deadline."Huge absence in our lineup," said Capitals coach Spencer Carbery. "I don't need to go into length about what he provides our team from a leadership standpoint, veteran presence standpoint, what he does on the ice."Wilson, who signed a seven-year, $45.5 million contract extension that begins next season, is considered a potential successor to Alex Ovechkin as captain and face of the franchise. He will not be eligible to return until April.