The Washington Capitals are really having a fantastic season! The NHL team finished the regular season at the top of both the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference, boasting a record of 51-22-9 and racking up 111 points. Captain Alex Ovechkin made history on April 6 by surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record, hitting an impressive 895 career goals. The Capitals kicked off the playoffs by taking down the Montreal Canadiens with a score of 4-1 in their first series. So, they’re up against the Carolina Hurricanes in Round 2 now.

With everything happening in the franchise, rookie Ryan Leonard shared some insights right from the locker room. Leonard’s statistics are looking pretty impressive for his debut. He played 9 regular-season games and scored 1 goal, which gave him a single point. So, in the playoffs, he’s played 5 games and has managed to get 1 assist along with a point to his name. Those are some solid stats for a rookie, no doubt!

On X, Capitals beat reporter Sammi Silber shared what the rookie had to say, mentioning, “Ryan Leonard on if he’s gotten used to the Capitals’ strange antics: ‘I’ve seen enough videos.’ Added that the Washington Capitals locker room is the most he’s heard ‘babe’ used in any setting. ‘It’s probably a word used a little bit more than I thought’.”

As a rookie in the NHL, Leonard took note of the friendly and carefree atmosphere in the locker room. The rookie admitted that he was a bit ready for the Capitals’ unique, tight-knit vibe since he had watched some clips of the team hanging out before. He noticed that the players often call each other “babe,” almost like it’s a friendly term of endearment or camaraderie.

Leonard is highlighting, with a bit of humor, that the Capitals have a fun and familiar vibe that’s a bit different from what he expected when he came in. So, what’s the buzz about Round 2 coming up?

The Washington Capitals are set for their next challenge

The Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes are gearing up for an exciting matchup in the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, starting on May 6. So, both teams made it through the first round in five games! The Capitals took down the Montreal Canadiens, and the Hurricanes got past the New Jersey Devils. Alex Ovechkin is really stepping up for the Capitals, playing a key role and making a big impact in the first round. Goaltender Logan Thompson has also really been a key player, bringing a sense of stability in the net.

The Hurricanes wrapped up the season in second place in the Metropolitan Division with a solid 47-30-5 record. They’ve got a well-rounded offense, with Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis leading the charge. Frederik Andersen has really been shining in the playoffs, with an impressive 1.59 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage.

This series is actually the second time these two teams are facing off in the playoffs, and remember, Carolina came out on top in their last matchup back in 2019. We’ll just have to wait and see what the two teams bring to the fans.

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