The 4 Nations Face-Off has been a successful tournament. Many fans first questioned the reason for the international event replacing the annual All-Star games, but the wait was worth it. However, many star players, especially the whole Washington Capitals’ squad, aren’t a part of this event. Why so?
The Caps are having a terrific season, with them being at the top of the Eastern Conference with 80 points. Keeping with this trajectory, they will end up being one of the first teams to make it to the Stanley Cup playoffs. This is one of the major reasons why many of their players chose to stay with their franchise over the break, rather than participating in the 4 Nations Face-Off. Just like their coach Spencer Carbery said, “Maybe (rest is a good thing) if you start to get over the fact that they don’t get an opportunity to represent their country, which [for] guys — other than playing in the NHL and making the NHL and winning the Stanley Cup — is right there with that honor to represent your country.”
But a certain Caps player came to attention after today’s game between Team USA and Canada, where the red sweaters lost the match 1-3. Heading to X, ESPN commentator and hockey sage, John Buccigross, pointed out the fact that “Tom Wilson has more goals this year than McDavid, MacKinnon, and both Tkachuks. He is on the best team in the East. Hard to believe he is not on Team Canada. He’s a unicorn in this era.”
Many unaware fans may find this difficult to accept. But this is the truth. Let us take a deep dive into the statistics. Tom Wilson has played 55 games and has scored 24 goals. This is way far below the top scorer, Leon Draisaitl’s 40-goal milestone for the Edmonton Oilers in the current season, but the German NHL star isn’t the forward we are comparing Wilson’s statistics to.
Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Matthew Tkachuk, and Brady Tkachuk are the players in question. While Connor and Matthew have 22 goals for their respective teams, Nathan and Brady have 21 goals each. That might not be a big difference, considering Tom has 24 goals. But the Caps forward not being present in Team Canada’s main roster was something to debate.
Has Wilson shared any comment about not taking part in the 4 Nations Face-Off? He was one of the many players who haven’t shared any views on their absence, but his teammate Andrew Mangiapane was candid about it. “I’m sure everyone that was kind of on the bubble there probably would have liked to have been a part of it. But I think internally and selfishly, I guess, for us, it gives everyone a two-week break, almost, to recover.”
Tom Wilson has more goals this year than McDavid, MacKinnon and both Tkachuks. He is on the best team in the East. Hard to believe he is not on Team Canada. He’s a unicorn in this era.
— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) February 16, 2025
Mangiapane understood that the break is only for two weeks, and he should consider using this time to recuperate from all the bumps and bruises sustained during the regular season games. Indeed, the current season for the Caps has been dreamlike, as they are back in Stanley Cup contention after so many years. The last time they were in the trophy run was in the 2017-18 season. And how did it go?
The team achieved victories against the Columbus Blue Jackets (4-2) in the first round, the Pittsburgh Penguins (4-2) in the second round, the Tampa Bay Lightning (4-3) in the Conference final, and the Vegas Golden Knights (4-1) in the Stanley Cup Final. Apart from the trophy this year, there is a major record that one of the team’s players is chasing.
The Washington Capitals are chasing greatness
The Washington Capitals, as a team, have dominated the current season. Their statistic of 36-11-8 speaks for their performance on the rink, and they are surely one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup for this year’s edition. But is this all to look at, Caps? If you are an avid NHL fan, you must be aware that the team’s captain, Alexander Ovechkin, is on the brink of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record, which stands at 894.
With more than 20 games remaining for the Caps in the regular season, Ovie is just 16 goals away. There have been many predictions, like the Washington Post’s columnist Barry Svrluga, who gave his verdict on this, sharing, “Alex Ovechkin, the math: He has 25 goals in 37 games played, or .6757 goals/game. He needs 17 goals in the Capitals’ last 29 games to pass Gretzky. That’s .5862 goals/game. His career rate is .6001 goals/game. The chance it could happen this season is very real.”
After the 4 Nations Face-Off, the regular NHL games will start back. The Caps are in the right place in the standings, as the players will look forward to maintaining it until the playoffs.
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