new york islanders

Surprise, surprise, all four division champions lost in the first round for the first time in major four North American pro sports history, the teams that played in last year's Cup Final are out and the team that finished 21 points ahead of the rest of the NHL got swept.

The Carolina Hurricanes stormed back to stun the Washington Capitals, 4-3, in Game 7 on Wednesday night to eliminate the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Jordan Staal scored the go-ahead goal and added an assist in the third period, and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Washington Capitals, 5-2, on Monday night to force Game 7 in their first-round playoff series.

The Capitals look as if they've found the swagger that led them to winning the Stanley Cup last year and can eliminate the Hurricanes in Game 6 on Monday night.

Capitals' Todd Reirden among rookie coaches enjoying chess match in playoffs

Capitals close with a victory, get Hurricanes in first round

Capitals vs. Canadiens

Evgeny Kuznetsov had two goals and two assists in the Washington Capitals' 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Kings.

Wednesday night's 6-3 defeat to the Maple Leafs extended the Capitals' losing streak to seven games — and Washington's free fall will now be paused by a week-long break.

In the first game of its three-game, 10-day trip to Italy, the Maryland men's basketball team beat the Rome All-Stars, 89-53, at Pala Fonte Roma Eur, about 45 minutes south of downtown Rome.

NHL

The 2018 NHL draft starts Friday. Will the Capitals use the 31st overall pick to bulk up their defense?

Barry Trotz won an NHL-best 205 of his 328 regular-season games (63 percent) since taking over as Washington's coach in 2014 — and, of course, the 2018 Stanley Cup. Now he's gone. a

After years of heartache, the puck finally bounces the right way for the Washington Capitals.

Philipp Grubauer will start Washington's playoff opener against Columbus, the first Capitals goaltender not named Braden Holtby to start a postseason series

Wards Chapel United Methodist Church has been serving the community for more than 200 years and the church hosts an auction every year to give back to the community and support mission projects for those in need. This year’s event is set for Saturday, March 3.

Table tennis player Han Xiao, a 2008 Maryland graduate, was voted chair of the United States Olympic Committee Athletes' Advisory Council.

Matt Niskanen scored two goals in the third period, lifting the visiting Capitals over the New York Islanders, 4-2, on Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory.

Shane Prince's goal broke open a scoreless game in third period, and once the Islanders got their first, they poured it on, beating the Washington Capitals, 3-0.

Sabrina D'Angelo made three saves in the penalty shootout as the Western New York Flash won the National Women's Soccer League championship on penalty kicks, 3-2, after a 2-2 draw with the Washington Spirit on Sunday.

M & D Stables homebred Eyeplayeveryday ($19) took the lead in midstretch and held off a closing English Minister to capture the $75,000 Find Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday.

STX LLC has signed a half dozen National Hockey League professionals to multi-year deals to play with STX equipment.

The Washington Capitals have told themselves there will be another day.

Trevor McCarthy rides Bodhisattva to victory in the $100,000 Federico Tesio for 3-year-olds, one of six stakes Saturday at Pimlico Race Course.

During his time coaching the Nashville Predators, whenever Barry Trotz prepared to face the Washington Capitals, he always marveled at their size but never saw it translate onto the ice.

Alex Ovechkin's overtime goal lifts Capitals over Detroit Red Wings, 6-5, after Washington blew three two-goal leads

Baltimore sports equipment maker STX said it will being selling ice hockey gear this spring after announcing multi-years deals with the National Hockey League and USA Hockey, the sport's amateur governing body. STX also announced a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Matt Moulson of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres.

A little more than a month ago, the Washington Capitals called a players-only meeting in search of a wake-up call. Off to the fourth-worst start in franchise history at 2-8-1, they sat in last place in the NHL, five points out of a playoff spot.

Dwan brothers face each other Saturday