We just did some math over here. According to our calculations over the last 50 years the Washington Capitals are 297-238-53-31 all time in December. Let's break it down to home and away too.
At the old and well remembered Capital Centre or Capital One Arena where they currently call home Washington is 161-95-28-14 on home ice in December. Away from their barn, the Capitals are 136-143-25-17. Though those road numbers certainly improved up until their two losses last week.
And the Caps have been known to put together some good memories in December and some not so good memories. Back in 2010 the team was featured on the 24/7 docuseries chronicoling the Winter Classic ahead of their matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
There was fights. There was foul language that we won't mention on here. There was a lengthy losing streak. But at the end of the documentary the good guys won the Winter Classic and that's all that matters.
We can also look to recent history for the month of December when Alex Ovechkin gift wrapped the fans in the form of a goal that sent him past Gordie Howe. That came in December of 2022.
Ovechkin not only passed Gordie Howe but also tied the record on the same night. He told ESPN.com's Greg Wyshynski after the milestone:
"You never thought it was going to happen when you come to the league, that you were going to beat any Gordie Howe record or Wayne Gretzky record. The whole situation happening right now, it's some miracle."Alex Ovechkin
Ovechkin would get seranaded with Ovi chants throughout the night. Ovechkin added, "It's nice to get it done at home in front of our house, family and friends. It's a great feeling. It's a tremendous feeling. We just have to keep going and we'll see what's going to happen."
Which brings us to today. As we wait for Alex Ovechkin's return from a lower body injury sitting just 26 away from the record. Even in Ovechkin's absense the Caps have won games.
So far this month, the Caps are 6-3-1 which is good for 13 points. Looking at the NHL standings they sit with a 23-9-2 record which is good for 48 points and second place in the Metropolitan Division just one point behind the New Jersey Devils, who have played three more games than the Caps. Not bad and with a good lineup and the return of the captain coming up, plenty of late Christmas gifts are in store.