The Caps' postseason came to a sudden end and now face an uncertain future. Nick Ashooh and JJ Regan look back at what went wrong against the Bruins but then turn the page to the questions that need to be answered this offseason, starting with the expiring contract of Alex Ovechkin, the expansion draft and how the Caps try to retool their roster into a contender. 

Capitals Talk

Season Over, now what? Ovechkin's contract and keeping the window open

After 2 thrilling overtime games to start Round 1 of the playoffs, the series heads back to Boston even at 1-1... Nick Ashooh and JJ Regan discuss the play of Craig Anderson, how significant the injury to Lars Eller may be, and then welcome in Joe Haggerty of BostonHockeyNow.com to discuss the series from Boston's side of things. Find out why Tom Wilson and Brad Marchand aren't that dissimilar and why no one in Boston is ever happy with Tuukka Rask.

Caps & B's 1-1 Heading back to Boston, Joe Haggerty of BostonHockeyNow

The Caps are shipping off to Boston... well, at least for games 3&4. But first, the 1st round series with the Bruins opens in DC Saturday night, and JJ Regan and Nick Ashooh have many questions about how this series will play out and what the Caps need to happen to make a long playoff run. Starting with the latest on Evgeny Kuznetsov and Ilya Samsonov, and a deep dive into Vitek Vanacek as the #1 goalie, and whose style of play will dictate the outcome. 

ROUND 1 PREVIEW: Caps set for physical battle with the B's

It's been a wild week for the Caps, and it all culminated Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. Karl Alzner joins Nick Ashooh and JJ Regan to discuss the fight night, TJ Oshie's remarkable performance after the death of his father and the media frenzy surrounding Tom Wilson after Monday night's incident with Artemi Panarin. Plus, the guys dive into the latest with the playoff push and the goalie situation with the postseason a week away.

Karl Alzner joins to talk Tom, T.J. and a wild night at MSG

No rest for the 1st-place Caps, who move on from their emphatic 3-game sweep of the Islanders to another marquee matchup with the Penguins... JJ Regan and Nick Ashooh look ahead to the last 7 games of the season and also bring back the Mailbag to answer some of your questions. But stick around for their interview with ESPN's Randy Scott, a die-hard Caps fan whose personal remembrance of the 2018 Stanley Cup run is something every Caps fan can relate and will enjoy listening to.

Sweep! Mailbag! and ESPN's Randy Scott

Short break for the Caps with a huge 3-game series with the Islanders ahead, but plenty to discuss for JJ Regan and Nick Ashooh on this week's episode. The guys discuss the recent ups and downs, including the recent injuries to Zdeno Chara and Justin Schultz, plus the immediate impact Anthony Mantha has made and what that means for Washington's postseason prospects. Nicklas Backstrom's 1000 games in a Caps sweater gets their much-deserved appreciation as well, and a look ahead to that pivotal series with the Isles.

Appreciating Nicklas Backstrom and Anthony Mantha's debut week with the Caps

Trade Deadline 2021 has come and gone, and Caps GM made the biggest move of the day, sending Stanley Cup champion Jakub Vrana, Richard Panik and a pair of significant draft picks to Detroit for Anthony Mantha. Nick Ashooh and JJ Regan break down the trade and what it means for the playoffs and beyond, plus hear from Brian MacLellan himself on the moves he did and didn't make today.

Jakub Vrana OUT, Anthony Mantha IN. Brian MacLellan on the Caps trade deadline

Don't look now, but Alex Ovechkin is scoring goals at a torrid pace again, and JJ Regan and Nick Ashooh discuss how Ovi keeps doing it in his 16th season. Plus, the recent "discipline" for Connor McDavid pales in comparison to anything Tom Wilson would receive, and why do the Rangers seem to have the Caps' number? Also, don't miss Alexa Shaw's interview with Nick Jensen about his journey to the NHL and what Zdeno Chara has meant to him this season.

Is Ovechkin the best player ever after 30? and Nick Jensen Interview

Cobra Kai is one of the hottest shows in television, and when Peter Laviolette brought the show into his dojo, or, the Caps locker room, the Karate Kid himself took notice. Before the last meeting against the Islanders Alexa Shaw, Alan May and Nick Ashooh got a chance to speak with Ralph Macchio about the new connection to the Caps, his love of hockey and his Islanders, and what it's been like to bring the Karate Kid franchise to a new generation of fans. Plus, Nick takes a quick look ahead to the Caps' future coming out of the mini-break in the season as the Caps look to stay hot in the 2nd half.

The Karate Kid, Ralph Macchio on the Caps and Cobra Kai

The Caps dominated their toughest test of the season to date against the Islanders, and Nick Ashooh and JJ Regan are here to debate just how meaningful that win was, plus looking ahead to what moves might be made (or not made) by the Caps at the NHL trade deadline. Plus a preview of an interview with Tom Wilson for the upcoming NBC4 Health and Fitness Expo - to find out more head to nbcswexpo.com.

Caps dominate statement game against the Isles

Tom Wilson has once again divided the hockey world - well at least the rest of the hockey world and Caps fans - and in this edition of Capitals Talk Nick Ashooh and JJ Regan give their takes on why the suspension was over the top. Also, hear our interview (16:28) with the Olympic gold medalists Monique and Jocelyne Lamoureux about their recent retirement, the experiences of playing with Team USA and winning the gold, and their new book "Dare to Make History". Plus, an interesting discussion on how Dmitry Orlov has turned his season around (25:00), and JJ's adventures in doing radio with a young child around.

The Tom Wilson suspension and the Olympic twins, Monique and Jocelyne Lamoureux

As the Caps continue a long road trip, the games get tougher as they head to Boston and Philadelphia. Jackie Redmond of NHL Network joins Nick Ashooh and JJ Regan for some national perspective on the Caps so far this season and which division rival will be left out of the playoffs. Plus, the guys examine the roller-coaster that has been the first 20-plus games of the season, and look ahead to this stretch of games that should tell us where this team stacks up in the East Division.

Tough road ahead and Jackie Redmond of NHL Network

As the Caps continue to wait for the return of goalie Ilya Samsonov, Ben Raby of the Capitals Radio Network joins Nick Ashooh and JJ Regan to discuss the up-and-down play the team has produced since returning from their COVID hiatus. Plus, more talk about the impending goalie battle between Samsonov and Vitek Vanacek, celebrating Nicklas Backstrom's imminent 700 assist milestone, and the guys discuss Ben's cover story in The Hockey News about the ageless Zdeno Chara. 

Ben Raby joins as Caps struggle for consistency

After 4 straight losses sandwiched around Covid cancellations, the Caps bounced back this week with back-to-back stellar performances against Pittsburgh and Buffalo. Karl Alzner joins Nick Ashooh and JJ Regan to discuss the recent turnaround and the upcoming goaltender dilemma the Caps will face when Ilya Samsonov returns. Plus, an appearance by JJ's son, a quick interlude for some Sabres bashing, and some discussion about pond hockey and the upcoming games in Lake Tahoe (complete with a well-placed Godfather reference). 

Karl Alzner joins to talk about the Caps bounce-back week

This week's Capitals Talk podcast comes during the midst of the team's 3-game postponement pause. We figured what better time than now to talk to longtime NBC Sports Washington's Wizards Insider Chris Miller to see what we lessons the Caps can learn from how the Wizards handled their COVID-19 pause earlier this year.Before we talk to Chris, we go through why the Caps games were paused now and not when they lost the Russian quartet a few weeks back, what the Penguins new management team of GM Ron Hextall and President of Hockey Ops Brian Burke mean for Washington moving forward and why the Caps' odds (powered by our partners at PointsBet) to win the East Division are still somehow behind the Penguins.

What the Caps can learn from the Wizards' COVID-19 pause

The Capitals Talk podcast is anchored by NBC Sports Washington's Capitals beat reporter Rob Carlin and highlights all members of our Capitals coverage team. Carlin will also reach out to a host of outside influencers both in the D.C. media and the national landscape.