For the second straight year, a trio of WTEF alums are interning at the 鈥� a WTA, or Women’s Tennis Association, 500-level pro tennis tournament.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a dream come true,鈥� 18-year-old Marcus Phillip said before his first venture overseas. 鈥淚鈥檓 really excited to get to experience something I know a lot of people my age or my skin color … would just love to experience.鈥�

The interns work across a variety of areas, including guest management and hospitality services, event and tournament operations, and PR, marketing and communications. The days are long and the work is demanding, but the benefits are long lasting.

The Mubadala x WTEF Global Internship Exchange Program pairs WTEF alums with university students from the UAE for hands-on experience at the in July and at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open in the UAE in February. Each year, the program combines three WTEF alumni and three UAE university students across both events.

鈥淭he behind-the-scenes experience is really priceless, particularly for students at that age,鈥� WTEF CEO Candace Smith said. 鈥淭hey are seeing every aspect of the tournaments and how they鈥檙e run and getting insider information and insight that hopefully will ignite some interest to go deeper in that field.鈥�

The interns work in a variety of areas, including guest and hospitality services, event and tournament operations, and marketing. The days are long and the work is demanding, but the benefits long lasting.

鈥淚 had a very life-changing experience,鈥� said WTEF alum Kobi Sankofa, who went through the internship program last year.

鈥淚t鈥檚 more than just the work,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l sometimes have a chance to go off and really connect with the people you鈥檙e working with. You make good friends, you learn discipline and responsibility. You pick up real life skills.鈥�

Sankofa, 19, said he has maintained contact with some of the foreign students he met through the program.

鈥淭he opportunity to see the Middle East, and to experience a different culture, and then to also work within that context is really something special,” Candace Smith said.

The WTEF offers after-school programming for students ages 5 through 18. On a typical weekday, students receive 90 minutes of after-school academic support and 90 minutes of tennis instruction and athletics.

The WTEF’s stated goal is to build life champions through high-quality tennis instruction, robust academic enrichment and life-enhancing lessons. Alums also receive guidance on resume building, career opportunities and creating their LinkedIn profiles.

Before leaving for his 17-day trip abroad, Phillip reflected on the impact WTEF has had on his life.

鈥淲hen I was younger, I had a bad temper problem and I wasn鈥檛 the average nice kid,鈥� he conceded. 鈥淏ut the adults here and everybody I鈥檝e grown up around have helped me build my personality. 鈥� Coming here and allowing people to help me, it鈥檚 allowed me to realize that this tennis center really (offers) a lot of opportunities. I鈥檓 grateful to have been able to take a part in that.鈥�

Phillip is now a freshman at the University of Maryland, where he is a member of the club tennis team and studying cybersecurity.

He also returns to the WTEF Southeast D.C. campus to serve as an instructor for the next generation of WTEF students.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a really good program that can open your eyes to something bigger,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t changed my life forever.鈥�

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Rizzo, who was fired last Sunday as the Nationals President and General Manager, has invited fans to enjoy a round of beer on him during a Monday happy hour as a token of his appreciation.

In a social media post Friday, he thanked the fan base and invited them to grab a “Round on Riz,” from 5 to 7 p.m. at Penn Quarter Sports Tavern or Walter’s Sports Bar.

The post came from the , which aims to help pediatric cancer patients and their families.

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Alex Ovechkin recorded his 895th career goal on Sunday in New York to move past Wayne Gretzky into sole possession atop the NHL鈥檚 all-time goal-scoring ledger.

Ovechkin beat New York Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin for the record-setting tally, before his Capitals teammates emptied their bench to celebrate with their captain.

Ovechkin recorded his 895th goal in his 1487th career game. Coincidentally, Gretzky finished his career with 894 goals in 1487 games.

This is a breaking news update. This story will be updated.

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Ovechkin鈥檚 second goal Friday 鈥� and his 41st of the season 鈥� moved him into a tie with Gretzky, who was in attendance at Capital One Arena as the Capitals hosted the Chicago Blackhawks.

鈥淚 think what’s happening right now, it’s great for hockey, great for D.C.,鈥� Ovechkin said ahead of Friday鈥檚 game. 鈥淚t’s pretty cool.鈥�

Gretzky had been the NHL鈥檚 all-time goal-scoring leader since passing Gordie Howe on March 23, 1994.

鈥淚鈥檓 so proud of the fact that I鈥檓 here tonight,鈥� Gretzky said during the first intermission. 鈥淚 thought yesterday, ‘Gosh, we better get on the plane and get up there because he might get three (goals) tonight.’ When he scored four minutes in I thought, ‘Oh my God, we might be able to leave after the first period.'”

The 39-year-old Russian superstar entered play Friday with a three-game goal scoring streak and with four goals in his prior five games. Any potential burden he may have felt with the extra attention as the record neared was seemingly brushed aside.

鈥淭he entire game of hockey is on his shoulders right now,鈥� longtime teammate Tom Wilson said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 guys like me, his teammates, who feel pressure on a nightly basis and this is next level. So to be able to handle that and to continue to perform and lead this team, it鈥檚 remarkable.鈥�

The all-time goal scoring record is a fitting milestone for Ovechkin, who burst onto the scene with a 52-goal rookie season in 2005-06 and has seemingly never stopped.

Ovechkin鈥檚 first goal Friday secured his NHL-record 14th career 40-goal campaign. He also became the first player in NHL history with at least three 40-goal seasons after turning 35.

On his first of the night, Ovechkin beat Spencer Knight 3:52 in, taking a pass from Dylan Strome behind the net and banking the puck off the far post and the goaltender鈥檚 back and in.

Ovechkin was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and is the NHL鈥檚 longest-tenured player with one franchise.

His next goal will move him into sole possession atop the NHL鈥檚 all-time goal-scoring ledger, as he鈥檒l become the 10th player to hold the distinction and the eighth since Joe Malone pulled ahead in 1921.

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While the pinnacle of Ted Leonsis鈥� tenure as a sports owner can be easily identified, it might come as a surprise that the night the Capitals won the Stanley Cup also serves as one of his big regrets.

鈥淲hen we won in 2018, I did not get the adrenaline high of great joy,鈥� Leonsis recently told 小萝莉影视. 鈥淚t was more relief.鈥�

Leonsis was relieved for a fan base that had so badly craved a Stanley Cup triumph. He was relieved for Dick Patrick, who spent 35 years as a Caps executive before finally becoming the sixth member of his family to win the Cup. And there was relief, too, for the face of the franchise: Alex Ovechkin.

鈥淚 lived in fear that Alex would be the greatest player to never win the Stanley Cup,鈥� Leonsis said. 鈥淪o, I had all this angst and drive to deliver and when we won the Cup, and even when I was on the ice and I was holding the Cup, it more a sense of 鈥楶hew! We did it.鈥� I wish I could have turned up the joy factor more.鈥�

Years removed from that June evening in Las Vegas, Leonsis now said he better appreciates what a championship does for a fan base and a city. It fuels him to win again.

鈥淚 promise that we鈥檒l do everything we can to win another Cup,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to have the greatest time, this next time.鈥�

25th anniversary of Caps purchase

The competitive fire still burns for Leonsis as much as it did when he first ventured into professional sports a quarter-century ago. Sunday marked 25 years since the Capitals鈥� original owner and founder, Abe Pollin, formally introduced Leonsis as his successor.

At the time, Leonsis was a 42-year-old internet pioneer, having made much of his wealth as an executive at America Online. He bought the Capitals for $85 million. Today, Forbes Magazine estimates the club鈥檚 worth at $1.6 billion.

鈥淭here鈥檚 the romantic side of the narrative, which is, yes, I was local and I was a season-ticket holder and I was enthusiastic and a family man,鈥� Leonsis said. 鈥淏ut I also had the wherewithal to buy the team in cash and to continue to invest in the team.鈥�

Leonsis said the 25th anniversary of his buying the Capitals is special because it coincides with the team鈥檚 upcoming 50th season. The dual milestones provided Leonsis with an opportunity to reflect on his time as an owner, which he concedes didn鈥檛 begin as smoothly as he had originally envisioned.

鈥淚 was naive in thinking that I could remain just a fan. When you鈥檙e a fan, you have all the answers. Then the moment you get to own the team, you realize how hard it is to effect change and improve the quality of play and competitiveness,” he said. “And so, it was very humbling.鈥�

Leonsis recalls the Capitals having a season-ticket base of 2,900 when he took over. In his first five seasons as the team鈥檚 owner, the Capitals missed the playoffs twice and lost in the first-round the other three times. Along the way, he spoke with fans to see what could be improved.

鈥淚 was given an earful,鈥� he said.

Learning to appreciate the long game

During those early years, when Leonsis heard rumblings that the Capitals should be contracted, he was tempted to fix everything as quickly as possible both on-and-off the ice. Among the early lessons he received as a new sports owner, though, was to stay patient.

Rather than looking for quick fixes via high-priced talent from outside the organization 鈥� as the Capitals did in acquiring and signing Jaromir Jagr in 2001 鈥� Leonsis learned to appreciate the long game.

鈥淚 get disappointed [over losses], but not bitterly disappointed鈥� like in the past, he said. 鈥淭hat allows you to make more rational decisions rather than emotional decisions.鈥�

Leonsis said he鈥檒l never be fully comfortable in his own skin as an owner: 鈥淭he moment you鈥檙e comfortable, you鈥檒l mess it up,鈥� he said. Still, he can point to certain benchmarks during his time where things turned for the better.

Winning the NHL鈥檚 Draft Lottery in 2004 and selecting Alex Ovechkin with the No. 1 pick was a game changer, but having Ovechkin embrace the team and commit long-term had the greatest impact.

鈥淭he act of loyalty was incredibly important for the franchise and our ownership group,鈥� Leonsis said.

鈥淲e established a very straightforward relationship [with Ovechkin] built on trust. And for this generationally great player to sign with us and spend his entire career with us and win MVPs and goal-scoring championships, it鈥檚 really been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We鈥檙e going to look back at this era and say, 鈥榃ow, that was really special.鈥欌��

That much became clear to Leonsis as he recently watched a 鈥楥apitals Classic鈥� on the sports channel he also now owns 鈥� Monumental Sports Network. The featured game from February 2010, included the Capitals and rival Pittsburgh Penguins.

Both teams were loaded with stars, and the Capitals entered the Super Bowl Sunday matinee with the NHL鈥檚 best record and in search of a 14th straight win. They were the toast of the NHL.

鈥淚t was a thing of beauty,鈥� Leonsis said of a moment he realizes in retrospect captured the growth of the franchise. 鈥淓veryone was wearing red; it was riveting, and I was really proud. It was such a moment of arrival. It was on national TV and the amount of respect the announcers were paying to our fans and to the Capitals and the rivalry, it was a wonderful moment.鈥�

It was also the early stages of a sellout streak that spanned 588 consecutive home games from 2009 through 2023. And as the hockey team soared to new heights, Leonsis built a sports empire.

In 2010, he bought the remaining interest in the NBA鈥檚 Wizards and the then-Verizon Center from the Pollin family and formed Monumental Sports & Entertainment 鈥� the parent company for all his sports holdings.

鈥淲e did orchestrate that we would have a path to control the building and the basketball team and that strategy has paid off,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd we’ve added to it by buying our [television] network. And so, we’ve been 鈥� in that 25-year period 鈥� very, very aggressive.鈥�

Looking toward the future

Leonsis has also gone from being one of the youngest owners in the four major sports leagues to being one of the most senior and influential. Today, he is also a member of the NHL鈥檚 executive committee and Chairman of the Media Committee for both the NBA and NHL.

鈥淚鈥檇 say we鈥檝e gone from being outsiders to now being a part of the leadership,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e’re leaders in many of the important next generation initiatives.鈥�

While Leonsis admits his jubilation was muted the night the Capitals earned their elusive Stanley Cup title, he was able to enjoy the scenes and celebrations that played out in D.C. in the days that followed. The reaction of the fan base resonated.

鈥淭he fans, we’ve grown up with them,鈥� Leonsis said, noting the Capitals rank among the NHL鈥檚 top-10 revenue earners. 鈥淲e’ve captured a generation and we built a next generation because of our investment. Now we’re an established team and established market. And I’m hoping to double down. Over the next 25 years, I don’t see why D.C. can鈥檛 become the best North American market.鈥�

As Leonsis looks toward the future 鈥� with an infusion of $515M coming from The District to modernize Capital One Arena 鈥� there鈥檚 an eagerness to see what鈥檚 in store, given how much has already changed since he first bought the Capitals a quarter-century ago.

鈥淗alf the team鈥檚 life has been under our leadership,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檒l leave it to you to come up with the stats and analytics, but I think we鈥檝e had a pretty good run for the first 25 years.鈥�

Editor鈥檚 Note: Ben Raby is the host of the Capitals Radio Network.聽

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Backstrom, who turns 36 later this month, underwent hip-resurfacing surgery in June 2022 and returned last January. Backstrom struggled to find his old form this season, averaging just 14:34 of ice-time per game, while managing just one assist in eight games.

On Monday, he reached out to team trainers, general manager Brian MacLellan and head coach Spencer Carbery, expressing his desire to step away due to his chronic hip issues. On Wednesday morning, he addressed teammates before their scheduled practice.

“Given my ongoing injury situation, I decided to take some time and step away from the game,” Backstrom said in a team-issued release. “This is a difficult decision, but one that I feel is right for my health at this time. I want to thank my teammates, the organization and fans for their unwavering support throughout this process. I ask for privacy at this time as I determine my next steps and viable options moving forward.”

The second-longest tenured athlete among D.C.’s pro sports teams, Backstrom ranks among the Capitals’ all-time leaders in most statistical categories.

“We stand behind Nicklas and will support him throughout this process,” MacLellan said in a statement. “We know firsthand how hard he has worked and how determined he is to get back to full health. Our organization stands fully behind him while he takes his leave of absence from the team to evaluate his current health situation.”

Carbery said it was difficult to watch Backstrom tell the team he was stepping away.

鈥淵ou can tell he wants to continue to play and wants to be there for them right now and be battling through, but he just physically can鈥檛 right now,鈥� Carbery said. “When you see someone describing that to their brothers, it tugs at your heart of how much it means to him and how much all his teammates mean to him, so it was difficult.鈥�

Backstrom was just the second NHL player to come back from the operation.

Capitals defenseman John Carlson said of Backstrom: 鈥淲e鈥檙e supporting him, following whatever is going make him happy and however he feels that is going to make his body feel the best, and that鈥檚 the decision that he makes.”

Beginning with Backstrom’s rookie season in 2007-08, the Capitals reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 14 of the last 16 seasons, while capturing 10 division titles, three Presidents’ Trophies, and the Stanley Cup in 2018.

Backstrom is the Capitals’ all-time assists leader and has recorded 1,033 points in 1,105 career games. He ranks second in franchise history in points, games played, power-play points and overtime goals.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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鈥淚 feel like a proud father watching all of my boys out there,鈥� Holley told 小萝莉影视 soon after Howard clinched the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament title last Saturday to earn an automatic NCAA berth.

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The conference title, and the subsequent invite to the Big Dance, are the first for Howard since the Bush administration鈥� That would be the George H.W. Bush administration.

Thirty-one years later, the Bison are back and members of Howard鈥檚 last MEAC championship team have a special affinity for the current group.

鈥淭he eerie thing about it is that this team is reminiscent of the team we had in 1992,鈥� said Holley, a senior guard on that Howard team and the 1992 MEAC Tournament MVP. 鈥淭hey play deep 鈥� nine-10 individuals – they play full-court pressure the entire game. They have great coaching and they persevered and have overcome adversity and all the obstacles that came their way.鈥�

The similarities don鈥檛 end there. Holley couldn鈥檛 help but feel he was reliving his own experience from the 1992 MEAC Championship while watching last week鈥檚 conference final.

With an NCAA berth at stake last weekend in Norfolk, Howard鈥檚 Jelani Williams sank a pair of free throws with six seconds remaining to give the Bison the lead. It was a Howard defensive stop and a missed shot at the buzzer from Norfolk State that sealed a 66-65 HU win.

HOWARD IS DANCING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 31 YEARS!

鈥� ESPN (@espn)

In the same building 31 years earlier, Holley sank a pair of free throws with 11 seconds remaining to give the Bison the lead. A Howard defensive stop and a missed shot at the buzzer from Florida A&M sealed a 67-65 Bison win.

Even the matchup in the NCAA tournament is the same as it was 31 years ago, 16th-seeded Howard facing the No.1 Kansas Jayhawks.

鈥淚f someone doesn鈥檛 believe in karma, or everything going in circles, this is a testament to that,鈥� said Holley, who has been celebrating this latest milestone with other members of the 鈥�92 team on a text thread created at a reunion in 2018.

鈥淪peaking on behalf of all of my 1992 MEAC Championship team, on behalf of the coaches and players who went through it, we鈥檙e all texting [this week] I think we could all say how proud we are that the 31-year drought is finally over.鈥�

Holley says he reached out to Howard head coach Kenny Blakeney to personally congratulate him on guiding this year鈥檚 team to heights not seen in decades. Until this year, Howard had just one winning season since 2002. There is a belief, though, both on Howard鈥檚 campus and among alumni that the foundation is being laid for sustained success.

This isn鈥檛 just a good team, Holley says. It鈥檚 a good program.

鈥淎nyone who followed this team, saw this coming and saw this opportunity coming. But what I鈥檓 most proud of and what I think others can be proud of is that [Blakeney] is not only building a team, but he鈥檚 also building young men to be involved in the community there at Howard University. Not only on court, but off the court as well. He鈥檚 building young men, and oh by the way, they just happen to be a great team.鈥�

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We wanted to know what Zimmerman was like behind the scenes 鈥� from an unassuming rookie to a key cog and veteran leader on a World Series winning team. What were the traits that made him a unanimously beloved teammate? What allowed him to come through in the clutch as often as he did? And what are the memories that those who knew him best during his playing career still think about today?

• Celebrating Ryan Zimmerman: 11 great moments with No. 11

Zimmerman spent his entire 16-year career with the Nationals, ultimately emerging as the franchise leader in several statistical categories, including games played, hits, home runs and RBIs. He also etched his place in the community through several philanthropic efforts, including his creation of the ziMS Foundation, whose mission is to help find a cure for multiple sclerosis.

Below is a sampling from over 20 interviews we conducted with Zimmerman鈥檚 former teammates and bosses. They also provided perspective on the fittingness of Zimmerman being the first National to have his jersey number retired.

JIM BOWDEN (GENERAL MANAGER 2005-2009)

I was the first GM in Washington Nationals history and oversaw the team鈥檚 first Amateur Draft in 2005. We had the fourth overall pick in that draft. We felt at the time that the first draft pick of the team should be a player that could be the future face of the franchise on and off the field.

Zimmerman checked all the boxes. On the field, he was a Gold Glove-caliber third baseman, had the special ‘hit’ tools and looked like the power would come in time. More importantly, he had the makeup and character to represent the organization for years to come in a first-class manner. He was quiet, humble and had tremendous lead-by-example leadership qualities. He lived up to all of them.

Selecting him in one of the deepest and most talented drafts in history was easy, but the decision was not unanimous among the team鈥檚 brain trust. However, it was Dana Brown, Bob Boone and myself that made the decision that Zimmerman was the right player to select.

We drafted him in June and promoted him to the Major Leagues in September against the wishes of the Major League staff, who didn’t think he could be ready. 聽He played in 20 games that year and hit .397 in 62 plate appearances.

I’ll never forget walking him into the Nationals clubhouse for the first time and saw how nervous he was to meet his manager and Hall of Famer Frank Robinson. His work ethic, processes, poise, composure, leadership and demeanor all graded out 80 out of 80 on the scouting scale.

Special player. Special human being.

BRIAN SCHNEIDER (CATCHER 2005-2007)

After we drafted Zim, Jim Bowden was throwing out all kinds names like Brooks Robinson and Mike Schmidt, so we thought he was crazy. But, you know what, once we got to see Zim and we saw him play defense, he was pretty darn good over there. I tell kids I coach today, I wish they could have seen Ryan in his first couple of years at third base and how good he was 鈥� how you couldn鈥檛 bunt on him. He was as good as anyone coming in on the slow rollers. And his range and his strong arm 鈥� man, he was good.

I remember when he first came up in 2005. When guys are young and they come up, you could test them out. You鈥檒l see if they鈥檒l do things for the veterans, you鈥檒l see how he reacts when you mess with him a little bit. But from the very beginning, we couldn鈥檛 get mad at the guy. He did everything we asked. He handled all the jokes like a pro. And the way he reacted, I took to him. We started taking him for dinners and we took care of him. And we saw early on, nothing fazed him. He was hitting homers and hitting walk-offs against the Yankees, and as tough situations rose up, he did as well. So we knew from the very beginning that he was going to be a darn good player for a long time.

MANNY ACTA (MANAGER 2007-2009)

Zim was not only a manager鈥檚 dream, he was a franchise鈥檚 dream. A lot of franchises are able to get first-round picks to be talented on the field, but Zim was not only talented on the field, but also an outstanding human being in the clubhouse and off the field. It鈥檚 like hitting the jackpot.

Throughout the years, he handled himself with so much class, especially those years when we were rebuilding. He never complained about the state of the franchise. He could have rocked the boat, but he didn鈥檛. He reaped those benefits by winning a World Series, and I was so happy for him. If anybody deserved to win a World Series, it was Ryan Zimmerman. He had been through the good, the bad and the ugly in D.C. So, it was a very fulfilling moment for me to see him do that.

He鈥檚 the definition a true franchise player. He helped the younger guys; he didn鈥檛 try to minimize them or haze them.

He鈥檚 a great gentleman of this game.

TYLER CLIPPARD (PITCHER 2008-2014)

Ryan鈥檚 natural baseball IQ was just through the roof. He knew the strike zone and he knew what pitchers were trying to do to him. And if he got his pitch, I swear, he did not miss it. He would go up there, and he would just relentlessly sell out on a certain pitch 鈥� and listen, hitters do this all the time, but every time he was selling out on a pitch and he got it, he鈥檇 hit it. And a lot of times for a double or a home run. I used to call right-center gap in Nationals Park 鈥榋immerman鈥檚 Gap,鈥� because he鈥檇 either go off the wall or homer to right-center all the time.

His ability in the clutch, there were so many moments that found him and he never wavered. He was always the same guy. Always the same approach. That鈥檚 why he came through in those moments so many times. It was kind of normal for him. He was just comfortable in those moments. Everyone wanted to see that 鈥� his teammates, the fans. And it was interesting how those moments seemed to find him so many times.

Those years 鈥� 鈥�08, 鈥�09, 2010 鈥� I was booking Ryan to be a surefire Hall of Famer. He was the full package.

Defensively, oh my gosh. I still to this day think of the foul balls that he would run down, down the left field line towards the tarp, and the over-the-shoulder flip catches where I鈥檓 like, 鈥楬ow does he even see the ball?鈥� And he would make these catches look so routine.

JIM RIGGLEMAN (BENCH COACH/MANAGER 2009-2011)

As a manager, there was always a real comfort level with Ryan. Not unlike when I could write the names of Tony Gwynn or Mark Grace into a lineup, when I had Ryan it was a very similar situation. You came to the ballpark and you could go right to that spot in the lineup. You knew every day you could put him in there and work around that. You may have had question marks in the lineup, but you never had question marks there. You could count on him every day.

He was just very polished in all aspects in the game. Offensively with the bat, but he was also a great base runner. He understood game situations: when he should run, when he should not run. He was very easy to manage. If you asked him to do something, he did it.

When I came on as the bench coach in 2009, they were negotiating his contract. So, the first few days of spring training some guys were there, but the mandatory reporting day hadn鈥檛 come up yet, so he only came in a couple of days after signing his contract. What was amazing was that he came in and he was not a guy that did a great deal of hitting in the offseason, but he literally 鈥� and they used to (say) this about Willie Mays 鈥� he could get out of bed in January and hit. He didn鈥檛 lose his stroke.

I saw that with Ryan on two or three occasions where he got shut down for an injury, and when he came back, you鈥檇 put a plan in place for him to go to the minor leagues for a rehab stint. And he would say, in a very respectful manner, ‘You know, I really don鈥檛 need much of that.’ He would maybe take a day or two and play in a rehab whereas some guys would go five, six, seven days. He just didn鈥檛 lose his swing. His timing, he had a high-leg kick, he had a lot going on there, but he never lost it. He could literally come to spring training on the first day and get his hits.

CRAIG STAMMEN (PITCHER 2009-2015)

The thing I remember the most about being his teammate was how great of a teammate he was, not only on the field, but off the field too.

When he signed that big contract, a lot of responsibility fell on his shoulders. People calling him ‘Mr. National’ and ‘Mr. Walk-Off’ and all that, but he always stayed humble and remembered that his first duty was to the rest of his teammates and helping them enjoy the Big Leagues with him and enjoy building that franchise into a winner. I鈥檒l always remember how he took care of us 鈥� always open to inviting us to his house, inviting us out to dinner. And then at the park, always doing what he could to help us win. One of the best teammates I鈥檝e ever had.

What I remember most about Ryan when I was pitching is how he鈥檇 lay his body on the line at third base to save a hit or save a few runs for me. I will never forget how good a third baseman he was. It was special.

He was the one or two guys on the team that made us feel like we were a real big league team and that we had a legit shot to go up against the league鈥檚 best. We had a lot of young guys that were still figuring things out, and I remember when I got called up for my (MLB) debut, I was the oldest guy in the starting rotation. Everyone else was younger, so we got thrown into the fire together, but he was the one guy that had the talent to get us through those rough patches so that when we all finally gained enough experience to have success in the big leagues, that we would be ready to start winning games and winning divisions.

DREW STOREN (PITCHER 2010-2015)

I was super-young when I first came up, and I remember how he took me under his wing. He invited me to go for dinner, and I鈥檒l never forget going to his house for the first time and his Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards were just sitting there on his bar. Not that I ever had a chance to win any of those awards, but probably the last place I鈥檇 put them would be on a bar. That just blew my mind. If I had those awards, I鈥檇 have some nice glass case built into my house that was locked, but for him, no, it was just sitting right there. On a bar. But that鈥檚 Zim.

He treated everybody 鈥� wherever they fell on the relative food chain 鈥� with respect. It would be easy for a guy like that, who put the organization on the map, to kind of turn his back on a young guy like me. Kind of maverickish 鈥� that鈥檚 how I was. But he took me under his wing, and he just led by example and treated everyone with respect. It meant a lot to me as a young guy to have a guy like that be so welcoming. It was a matter of getting it, and he鈥檚 a guy that鈥檚 certainly the epitome of getting it.

With his ability and his talent and his accomplishments, he had every right to have a big ego and to act like he was better than everybody else. But that was the furthest thing from the way he went about his business. I think that says a lot about him as a person and as a teammate.

DENARD SPAN (OUTFIELDER 2013-2015)

I remember watching the Nationals in those early years 鈥� 鈥�07, 鈥�08. I was just starting in the league, and they were not exactly the team that everyone wanted to model themselves after. But he was one of the early bright spots of the organization, and he took on that role of being the man of that franchise. So it really all started with him. As the other draft picks and the talent starting to mature, it became a model franchise, but it started with him.

During my three years in Washington, there were a lot of personalities on the team. We had Jayson Werth 鈥� everybody knows his personality. We had Bryce Harper, and everyone knows his personality. And we also had a lot of younger highly touted prospects just figuring things out. But then you look over, and there鈥檚 Ryan Zimmerman, and I felt like he was just the glue to the team. He was steady, mellow, even-keeled, and I just feel like he was a guy that everyone could look to when things got too high or too low. We would follow his temperature. And when we saw the way he worked and competed, it just elevated everybody鈥檚 game. He made everybody else want to fall in on line and jump on his train.

MATT WILLIAMS (MANAGER 2014-2015)

The year we made the adjustment to move him to first base (in 2015), he worked extremely hard, because he took his defense seriously. He wanted to contribute on that end as well. It wasn鈥檛 just the offensive side.

It was a lot of long days in spring and a lot of extra work was involved in getting him prepared. He transitioned very well. And a position change, especially when you鈥檝e won a Gold Glove at the (previous) position, it鈥檚 not easy to change. But it was necessary for him, and he embraced it. The reason that he was so successful was because of the fact that he did embrace it. He took it very seriously. It was very important for him to be good in every aspect of the game, a leader and good player and somebody that the team could rely on.

For me, the telling sign of him and the way he is, is his field 鈥� Ryan Zimmerman Field, right next to Nationals Park. He was the first one with the organization to create (a field in his name). We worked with Under Armor on creating it, and the giveback to the community and the appreciation of everybody being supportive of him is the true trait that I take.

Sure, lots of hits, lots of great plays, Gold Gloves, Silver Sluggers, those are baseball things. But the man, that particular thing is what stands out to me 鈥� that he was willing to help the community. He certainly did a lot of work within the community and wanted to continue his legacy in that area and be part of all the kids鈥� joy and the parents鈥� joy that they could come out and play on the field.

DANIEL MURPHY (INFIELDER 2016-2018)

Zim and I were locker mates, and I just appreciated how steady he was. I was impressed with how physically put together he was and how intent he was on eating properly and lifting and doing all things necessary to take care of his body. And when we played together, he was put together. He worked hard. That was something I got to observe. He had a guy who prepared his meals, and I ended up getting the same guy. Zim spurred me forward with that. When you see your teammate willing to make those sacrifices, I was like, ‘Well, what鈥檚 my excuse?’ So he actually really pulled me forward. He was really put together. And that鈥檚 a choice. But he made that choice. He was a physical specimen. He pushed me to be better.

On the field, I remember one time he got Clayton (Kershaw) in L.A. in a day game. And he had been waiting for a breaking ball for a couple of days. You know, we go to L.A. and we see 鈥極K, Clayton on Sunday.鈥� And then in his first at-bat, he got him. He homered. I was on-deck and he came through as he hit home plate, he had just given us a 1-0 lead, and he had this look on his face like: ‘Man, I鈥檝e been waiting for that pitch for two days! And I got it and I didn鈥檛 miss it!’ And he slapped my hand and he went into the dugout. I remember the look on his face of someone setting a goal and executing the plan perfectly. There was just exhilaration and exuberant joy. That was awesome.

Zim was so unique because he would look for breaking balls. I almost exclusively stayed on the fastball. So to hear him say: ‘Yeah I鈥檓 going to look for this breaking ball in this spot, and I鈥檓 not going to come off of it. I鈥檓 going to stay on it the whole way.’ That was unique. I was unwilling to do it. But he鈥檇 have a plan. And if he鈥檚 looking for a breaking ball early, he鈥檚 going to take it the whole way. But when he鈥檇 get it, he鈥檇 unleash these salacious swings on it. We would talk about it. ‘What are you looking for?’ And he鈥檇 say he鈥檚 looking for a certain pitch, and not leaving until he gets it. Then he鈥檇 get it and he wouldn鈥檛 miss it.

ADAM EATON (OUTFIELDER 2017-2020)

Zim always just sat on a different chair. If you were a headliner or a good player, you always seemed to take a chair behind him. Whenever he said something in the clubhouse, it was heard. Zim just had that feel in the clubhouse and the respect (from his teammates). If he said something, he was doing it himself. And for me, that鈥檚 what a leader is.

I think if one thing resonates with me is when we were 19-31 and we were struggling early in 鈥�19. I just remember we came in after a loss. Zim came in and yelled: ‘Who cares?! On to the next game. Nobody freakin鈥� cares about us.’ And he basically meant there was no team in our division that was going to feel sorry for us. We鈥檙e the most talented team in the division. No one is saying, ‘Oh, the poor Nationals.’ And he was really raising his voice, and when he鈥檇 raise his voice like that, everyone was quiet.

And he was usually one of the last ones off the field, so we鈥檙e all sitting there in the clubhouse wondering how did we lose another game, and he comes in and says, ‘Who freakin鈥� cares?!’ I think that helped turn everyone around. The only people that will turn this around are us. Nobody is going to lay down for us. That always resonated for me, because I feel that guys that are a little more vocal in the clubhouse at certain times, if they continue to talk, it becomes a little bit of white noise and it resonates less. But when he stepped up, for me that truly helped us spin that season around. I think everyone kind of looked in the mirror. We鈥檇 all follow Zim into any battle. His words just carried more.

It鈥檚 almost like a father. He doesn鈥檛 yell at you all the time, but when he does, it means something. Zim wouldn鈥檛 say a whole heck of a lot and would sometimes allow situations to get overcooked. But then when he finally did (speak), everyone would take a step back, take a seat and listen to what he had to say. He鈥檇 always pick the right time. He never overstepped his boundaries, never said too much, would always say the right words. One of the most impressive guys I played with 鈥� just how he could a hold a room. He wouldn鈥檛 say a word for a month, but then he could then hold a room for a 15-minute session. It鈥檚 a credit to how he went about the game.

SEAN DOOLITTLE (PITCHER 2017-2020, 2022)

In 2005, we played together at Virginia, but when I got traded over here in 鈥�17, it had been a while since I had seen him. And I remember I met the team in Anaheim and I got to the field super-early that day. And he was one of the first players to get there. It was right after he had broken the franchise home run record, so I went over to him and I was like, ‘Bro, Mr. Home Run King can I have your autograph?!’ Sort of razzing him. And he just smiled and rolled his eyes. But right away, you could tell it was the same guy I played with in 2005 at school. All of the success that he had, and everything he鈥檚 meant to the franchise, he was still the same guy. And to me, that was really cool.

It was so calming for me to interact with him and be like, ‘Oh, this is the guy I remember,’ and kind of fall right back to the last time we were teammates, 12 years before. For me, it was my first time getting traded, first time walking into a different major league clubhouse. I was super-nervous, and he was like the same dude I knew in 2005, and I said to myself, ‘OK, I鈥檓 good.’ Having it be just like I remembered in 2005 right off the bat, I was like, ‘OK cool.’ And I know he does that for a lot of guys 鈥� new guys, old guys that would come here, but that鈥檚 Zim. He鈥檚 the calming presence, the veteran leader that welcomes guys in and leads by example.

KURT SUZUKI (CATCHER 2012, 2019-2020)

With Zim, he鈥檚 the epitome of a professional. He plays the game the right way and is a great teammate. But he鈥檚 also a great teacher. With some of the young guys that we had (in 2012) 鈥� Bryce Harper, Steve Lombardozzi, Danny Espinosa 鈥� you see Zim. The way he taught them, he was like an extra coach. To learn from a guy like Zim with his Gold Gloves and Silver Sluggers, that鈥檚 a pretty cool thing and something I noticed when I first came over in 2012.

Whether he was starting or coming off the bench to pinch-hit, watching him prepare for an at-bat, how he studies the pitchers and how he studies the pitch sequences, it鈥檚 pretty incredible. Obviously he has the talent, but you can understand why he was such great hitter. He almost thinks along with the pitcher, watching him throughout the game. His baseball IQ is off the charts.

I鈥檒l never forget the three-run homer that he hit against the Dodgers in Game 4 (in 2019) to give us a Game 5 in L.A. I was on-deck. Max [Scherzer] was dealing, we were up one. He came up. The wind had been howling, and the ball was starting to get knocked down a little bit, but he absolutely destroyed a high fastball off Pedro Baez. And we didn鈥檛 know if it would go out because of the wind, but this thing just cut across the wind, and it gave us a comfortable lead. It gave us a feeling of ‘OK we got this.’ And I was on-deck thinking: ‘Of course! Why wouldn鈥檛 he be the guy to do this?!’ He鈥檚 done it before. He鈥檚 been here for all the ups and downs, and it鈥檚 just fitting for Zim to come up with clutch hit after clutch hit after clutch hit. It was just awesome. He could thrive in those situations. His mentality, understanding the situation, not letting it get too big. That was Zim.

BRIAN DOZIER (INFIELDER 2019)

He鈥檚 the ultimate guy that every franchise wants leading the pack and representing them on and off the field. Zim is a buttoned-up guy when it comes to being the face of the franchise. But behind the scenes, especially when he gets on the good bourbon, he can let loose a little bit.

So in 2019, what got us going a little bit was the whole (postgame celebratory) shirtless thing. And if I鈥檓 going to be frank, maybe sometimes it was a little more than just the shirt, but Zim loved it. It was kind of his idea when I bounced it off of him. And Zim and I have talked about this, but you can鈥檛 recreate what we had. (The 2019 season) was the most fun we had, and it was led by Zim from the get-go.

We had this thing after wins where we would take our shirts off and run around (and) do a line dance (in the clubhouse), and that was even back at the end of May when we were the worst team in baseball. Anibal Sanchez was kind of the ringleader of the dance, and eventually the whole team got into it. Zim was all for it.

On the road, Zim was our main guy on the bus. Everywhere we landed, he鈥檇 get on the microphone on the bus and do his thing. We had a little text message thing, where you鈥檇 text him on the bus, and he鈥檇 have to read (over the mic) whatever was texted. Everything remains confidential. The sender is never revealed, so it鈥檚 basically just ragging on teammates and keeping everyone laughing. We had to have that every time we landed. Zim was that guy. He led that charge. Everyone just kind of looked to Zim for any kind of team meeting or to get us going in the right direction.

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The WTA-250 level tournament will include 32 competitors in singles and 16 doubles teams. It will run simultaneously to the ATP-500 level tournament from July 30 鈥� Aug. 7.

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While D.C. has been a fixture on the men鈥檚 circuit since 1969, the Citi Open also included WTA fields from 2011-2019.

鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled that the WTA Tour is coming back to Washington,鈥� Citi Open Chairman Mark Ein said in a phone interview.

鈥淥ne of the great things about the sport of tennis is that it鈥檚 the only major professional sport where men and women compete on the same big stages, and our stage in Washington is one of the biggest in the sport. To have a combined event again has been a huge priority for us and we鈥檙e thrilled.鈥�

The WTA鈥檚 presence in D.C. means the Citi Open joins the U.S. Open, plus Masters tournaments in Miami, Indian Wells and Cincinnati as the only combined events in the country featuring both men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 fields.

D.C. was not originally included on the WTA鈥檚 itinerary for 2022, but when the Auckland Open in New Zealand was canceled due COVID-19 in January, there was an appetite to stage a 250-level tournament elsewhere within the calendar year. The Citi Open was a logical fit.

While the WTA鈥檚 presence in Washington isn鈥檛 guaranteed beyond this summer, Ein said it鈥檚 the goal of the Citi Open to create a long-term partnership.

鈥淲e鈥檙e committed to having this be a full combined event long into the future,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have a great solution for this summer but we鈥檙e already working on the long-term situation.鈥�

With the expansion of the Citi Open to include the WTA tournament, the entire event will consist of nearly 50% more matches. To accommodate the increased volume, daytime sessions are expected to begin at noon — two hours earlier than at last year鈥檚 ATP-only event.

鈥淭here鈥檚 going to be almost double the amount of matches, so it鈥檚 a real boom to fans because there鈥檚 more content and there鈥檚 more great players,鈥� Ein said.

Player fields for both the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 tournaments will be released in the coming weeks. Last year鈥檚 Citi Open set attendance records in Rock Creek Park with former world No.1 and 21-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal among the headliners.

Ein anticipates a strong turnout for this year鈥檚 WTA field as well.

鈥淥ur city has embraced women鈥檚 tennis, frankly since we brought World Team Tennis here in 2008,鈥� said Ein, who also owns the WTT鈥檚 Washington Kastles.

鈥淭he players love coming here. It鈥檚 the perfect stop. For many of the Europeans, with the next stop on the Tour being in Canada, it鈥檚 a great way to get back to [North America]. And they love playing here in front of our fans. They love the event, they love the stadium. I know we鈥檙e going to have an exceptional field.鈥�

Past WTA tournaments at the Citi Open have for some of the game鈥檚 best players. Americans Sloane Stephens (2015) and while 2019 U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu secured her first career WTA match win in D.C. in 2017.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 one of the great things about the event,鈥� said Ein, 鈥渋s you get to see a lot of great players who are already great and then you see some younger players who will become great.鈥�

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The Capitals have shown these elements in bursts, but they haven鈥檛 shown them consistently enough. That鈥檚 why they suddenly find themselves on the brink of elimination, trailing the Panthers three games to two in the best-of-seven series.

Game 6 is Friday at Capital One Arena.

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鈥淵ou’ve got to win a hockey game,鈥� Capitals Head Coach Peter Laviolette said Thursday in Florida. 鈥淭here’s things that we’ve done well in this series, and then there’s things that we haven’t done well 鈥� We’ve got to take those things that we’ve done well and the positives and bring that for a more consistent amount of time.鈥�

To Laviolette鈥檚 point, the Capitals looked good to start Game 5 on Wednesday. Washington built a 3-0 lead early in the second period and were seemingly well positioned to take a 3-2 series lead.

Undisciplined play with the puck, though, combined with defensive breakdowns, opened the door for the Panthers to claw their way back. Florida ultimately rallied with five unanswered goals in an eventual 5-3 win.

鈥淲e gave the game away,鈥� veteran forward Nicklas Backstrom said.

The Panthers are the NHL鈥檚 highest scoring team in 26 years, having averaged 4.14 goals per game during the regular season.

Florida鈥檚 quick-strike offense feasts off turnovers and the ability to transition up ice with pace. The Capitals played into that game Wednesday with several miscues that led directly to Florida goals.

鈥淲e got caught on a couple of mistakes of us not making the play,鈥� conceded Capitals winger T.J. Oshie. Oshie scored twice in Game 5, but also committed a neutral zone turnover moments before the Panthers got on the board at 6:50 of the second period.

鈥淚n a couple of instances, there was a goal five or 10 seconds [after a miscue],鈥� Oshie said. 鈥淜ind of shot ourselves in the foot. They鈥檙e a great team. Can鈥檛 give them offense. They鈥檙e going to find a way to create something on their own. For a lot of the game, I like the way we played. It鈥檚 unfortunate we didn鈥檛 show up on the scoreboard and that they took advantage of their chances.鈥�

For the second straight game, Florida鈥檚 Carter Verhaeghe scored the eventual game-winning goal after a costly Capitals turnover. In Game 4 at Capital One Arena, Verhaeghe and the Panthers converted in overtime soon after Capitals rookie Connor McMichael lost control of the puck in the neutral zone. In Game 5, Verhaeghe stole the puck from Dmitry Orlov inside the Panthers zone before quickly transitioning up ice and eventually beating Ilya Samsonov for the go-ahead marker in the third period.

鈥淚f you play against a team like Florida that is a high-octane team, we’re just feeding them,鈥� Laviolette said. 鈥淎nd we can’t.”

鈥淭here should be a lot of confidence from the things that we have done well in the series, the games that we have won, the times that we played well. But you really have to work for a clean game against a team like Florida, who鈥檚 dynamic with what they do.鈥�

The Panthers led the NHL with 29 comeback wins during the regular season, including a League-record five comebacks by three-or-more goals. Now the Cardiac Cats have entered the postseason chat. Come-from-behind wins in Games 4 and 5 have the Panthers on the verge of completing an in-series comeback after trailing Washington two games to one.

While the Panthers are looking to advance to the second round for the first time since 1996, the Capitals will look to avoid a fourth consecutive first-round exit.

鈥淲e’ve got to reset here,鈥� Oshie said. 鈥淵ou obviously don’t want to be down 3-2, especially when we felt like we had a chance to go up 3-1 in [Game 4]. You’ve just got to regroup. We’ve got a veteran group in there and a bunch of guys with great character.鈥�

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The same Capitals who spent the final 62 days of the regular season in the second wild card spot are in the driver鈥檚 seat against the Presidents鈥� Trophy-winning Panthers.

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鈥淚 think something you realize when you鈥檙e a little older, it doesn鈥檛 matter where you鈥檙e seeded,鈥� veteran center Nicklas Backstrom said before the series began. 鈥淚n the playoffs, anything can happen.鈥�

That the Capitals lead the series is noteworthy in itself. But how the Capitals are doing it may be most impressive. The Capitals didn鈥檛 escape Games 1 and 3 as the benefactors of some puck luck. They haven鈥檛 relied on their goalies to steal games. Simply put, they鈥檝e been the better team.

Beginning in Game 1, the Capitals have shown the blueprint for a potential upset with solid play defensively. Florida finished the regular season as the NHL鈥檚 highest scoring team in 26 years.

In Washington鈥檚 series opening win, the Capitals limited the Panthers鈥� speed and transition game through the neutral zone. They created (and capitalized on) turnovers and forced the Panthers to ice the puck as their options closed. The Capitals have successfully slowed the Panthers for much of the series, with the exception coming in the second half of Florida鈥檚 5-1 win in Game 2.

The Capitals responded in Game 3 Saturday with a 6-1 win of their own as they again held the Panthers鈥� high-octane offense in check. Before a sellout crowd at Capital One Arena, the Capitals received timely saves from Ilya Samsonov, won the special teams battle and had a balanced attack with six different goal scorers. They also brought plenty of physicality 鈥� another common theme in the series- and appeared to frustrate the Panthers as the game wore on.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e putting a lot of pressure on themselves,鈥� Panthers Interim Coach Andrew Brunette said of his team after Game 3. 鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to alleviate it. But it鈥檚 something they have to go through. We鈥檝e got to find a way to be free. Maybe getting pounded here will kind of loosen us up a little bit.鈥�

The upstart Panthers finished with the best overall record during the regular season and set franchise records across the board for most wins (58) and points (122). A late-season 13-game winning streak was also a franchise best. Adversity in the second half of the season was limited. The playoffs are proving to be a different story.

Consider that the Panthers were 39-0-1 during the regular season when leading at the second intermission. In the series opener, the Capitals rallied from a 2-1 second-intermission deficit and beat Florida 4-2.

The Panthers鈥� power play ranked fifth on the circuit during the regular season. Washington is a perfect 9-for-9 on the penalty kill in the series.

The Panthers finished 22 points clear of the Capitals in the Eastern Conference standings. Yet the Capitals are playing with a quiet confidence in this first-round series.

As Alex Ovechkin noted before the series began, it鈥檚 a clean slate come postseason time.

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be totally different games than the regular season,鈥� Ovechkin said. 鈥淥bviously, they have a very solid group of guys, best team in the regular season. But in the playoffs, it鈥檚 going to be different. It鈥檚 going to be a different mindset. It鈥檚 going to be different speed. It鈥檚 going to be a different battle level.鈥�

The Capitals are showing the value of that battle experience. The Panthers, who last won a playoff series in 1996, are still figuring it out.

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Tom Wilson is out with a lower-body injury and will not play Game 2 against the Florida Panthers.

鈥淲e always hope for the best with players,鈥� said head coach Peter Laviolette. 鈥淗e鈥檚 listed as day-to-day. We hope to see him down the road.鈥�

Wilson opened the scoring in Game 1 Tuesday with an early power-play goal, but only played three first-period shifts spread across 91 seconds.

He had career highs during the regular season with 24 goals and 52 points in 78 games.

鈥淵ou can鈥檛 replace Tom,鈥� said Caps winger T.J. Oshie. 鈥淓specially in playoffs, he is one of our most important players because of his ability to play physical, his ability to score big goals, his ability to penalty kill, (to play on the) power play 鈥� he is just a guy you cannot replace.鈥�

In addition to Wilson鈥檚 versatility and on-ice production, the 6鈥�4鈥� tall, 220-pound power forward brings intangibles.

鈥淗is presence in the room is very influential to our team,鈥� Oshie said. 鈥淲e are hoping for the best. I think everyone knows he is a pretty tough guy, so hopefully he will be out there with us in a couple nights 鈥� and if not, it is next man up like it always is.鈥�

In the Capitals鈥� case, that means an opportunity for rookie Brett Leason. A second-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, Leason was recalled from AHL Hershey and will make his NHL postseason debut in Game 2.

鈥淥bviously very excited,鈥� said Leason, who had three goals and six points in 36 games with the Capitals this season. 鈥淰ery fortunate to get this chance. Hope I can make the most of it.鈥�

Leason has split time this season between the Capitals and the American Hockey League鈥檚 Hershey Bears. The 6鈥�5,鈥� 218-pound winger made his NHL debut in October and was in the lineup for all three regular-season meetings against Florida.

Laviolette spoke with Leason Thursday morning and said 鈥淗e was really calm.鈥�

The coach added: 鈥淲e went over the pre-scout and the systems and things that happened in the first game. Pretty levelheaded kid. But I鈥檓 sure tonight, as it ramps up and you go out on the ice with the fans the way they were last game and the noise in the building, it becomes really exciting. Once you get into it, it鈥檚 just hockey. It鈥檚 just that initial bang that you take in for the first time.鈥�

The Capitals were encouraged by their ability to slow Florida down in their series-opening 4-2 win. Leason has proven to be responsible defensively, one of the reasons he鈥檒l be in the lineup against the NHL鈥檚 highest-scoring team in the regular season.

Leason will play on a fourth line with Johan Larsson and Nic Dowd. Leason, who hasn鈥檛 played a postseason game at any level since the 2019 Memorial Cup with the Western Hockey League鈥檚 Prince Albert Raiders, said he feels he earned this opportunity.

鈥淚t’s been crazy,鈥� he said of his journey as a pro. 鈥淚 think this season, I took some big strides. Obviously playing my first game, scoring my first goal, just being part of the team 鈥� I feel like my development from the start of the season to now, I’m happy with it. And the Caps should be happy with it too.鈥�

Below is the Capitals鈥� anticipated lineup for Game 2 in Florida:

Front lines

Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Sheary

Johansson-Backstrom-Oshie

Mantha-Eller-Hathaway

Larsson-Dowd-Leason

Defensemen

Fehervary-Carlson

Orlov-Jensen

van Riemsdyk-Schultz

In goal

Vanecek

Samsonov

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Florida was 39-0-1 during the regular season when leading at the second intermission. The Capitals rallied, though, with a game-tying goal from Evgeny Kuznetsov, the eventual game-winning goal from T.J. Oshie, and an empty-net goal from Lars Eller.

Hear the third-period highlights below from a memorable Capitals comeback. Radio calls are courtesy the Capitals Radio Network (John Walton and Ken Sabourin)

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Ovechkin will return after missing the final three games of the regular season with an upper-body injury suffered April 24. He was a full participant at the Capitals鈥� two practices before they flew to Florida on Monday, and acknowledged that he could have played last week if they were playoff games. His return to the lineup, while reassuring to the team, is hardly unexpected.

鈥淎lex always wants to play, but he was held out,鈥� head coach Peter Laviolette said after the Capitals鈥� morning skate. 鈥淚t was just best for him. He wants to play all the time. You鈥檝e got to love a guy like that. He always wants to be in the lineup. But he was dealing with some stuff and it [was] best just to move forward and have him ready for Game 1.”

Regarding the goaltending, the decision to start Vanecek shouldn鈥檛 be viewed as a huge surprise, but it wasn鈥檛 a slam dunk either. Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov started 39 games each during the regular season. A case could have been made to start either in the series opener.

Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov started 39 games each during the regular season. A case could have been made to start either in the series opener.

Ideally, one of the two would have emerged as the undisputed No. 1 goalie down the stretch. Instead, inconsistencies in their games led to the two splitting starts for much of the season.

Vanecek went 20-12-6 during the regular season with a 2.67 goals-against average and .908 save percentage. Samsonov was 23-12-5 with a 3.02 goals-against average and .896 save percentage.

鈥淰itek鈥檚 body of work has been just a little bit stronger, but it鈥檚 close,鈥� Laviolette said. 鈥淰itek, we gave the start to last year [in the playoffs] and it didn鈥檛 go the way he wanted or as planned [due to injury]. But the body of work that he had this year just earns him the nod for Game 1.鈥�

With Vanecek getting the call for Game 1, a new line of questions now come up: How will Vanecek fare against the NHL鈥檚 highest-scoring team? And how long can he remain the No. 1 before head coach Peter Laviolette turns to Samsonov?

鈥淚t hasn鈥檛 happened,鈥� Laviolette said this week of one goalie separating himself from the other. 鈥淎nd yet, we had a 100-point season. We鈥檝e been able to find success with that. They are two young goaltenders that are pushing every day. I don鈥檛 know if it surprises me, but that鈥檚 where we are at right now. We鈥檝e relied on both goaltenders. We鈥檙e going to count on both goaltenders.鈥�

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• More聽Washington Capitals 小萝莉影视聽
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The Capitals are the heavy betting underdogs against the Presidents鈥� Trophy winning Panthers, with the series set to begin Tuesday in Florida. This marks the first time in 10 years the Capitals will open the postseason on the road as the lower-seeded team in their first-round series.

Participants in our roundtable included Tarik El-Bashir (The Athletic), Andrew Gillis (NBC Sports Washington), Tom Gulitti (NHL.com), Samantha Pell (The Washington Post), Ben Raby (小萝莉影视 & Capitals Radio), Sammi Silber (Washington Hockey Now) and Stephen Whyno (Associated Press).

What are your initial thoughts on the series?

Samantha Pell (Washington Post):聽First thought that comes to mind is a high-scoring matchup on both sides. The Capitals will need to score a lot of goals against Florida with their high-octane offense. I think it will be a really tough series for the Capitals, but I do think this a series that we can see go six or seven games.

Tarik El-Bashir (The Athletic):聽I鈥檓 actually less concerned about the Panthers than I would have been about the Rangers. This time of year, goalies play an outsized role in determining outcomes and the Rangers have the best in the league in Igor Shesterkin. [Panthers goalie Sergei] Bobrovsky isn鈥檛 a bad goalie, but if you look at his history, he hasn鈥檛 been great in the playoffs and he hasn鈥檛 been great against the Capitals. And the Panthers, while they鈥檙e a high-flying team that scores a lot of goals, they don鈥檛 play great defense. I think they鈥檙e still the better team, but I am more confident that the Capitals can pull an upset against the Panthers than against the Rangers.

Tom Gulitti (NHL.com): I think the Capitals are going to have to try to control the puck in the series and use their physicality to wear Florida down. That鈥檚 their hope, I believe, in the series — to make it a long series by wearing them down with their physicality, by keeping the puck, by forechecking and pressuring their defense, and by keeping the puck out of their own end where they鈥檝e had some issues with their goaltending. I think we saw their blueprint for how they鈥檙e going to have play in this series in that game against Colorado a few weeks ago. That鈥檚 how they鈥檙e going to have to play: they really controlled play with their structure, they didn鈥檛 turn the puck over and feed into [Colorado鈥檚] transition game or the counter-attack game that鈥檚 similar to Florida鈥檚.

Ben Raby (小萝莉影视 and Capitals Radio):聽The Panthers were an easy watch all season, scoring goals in bunches and showing an incredible knack for the comeback. No team had more third-period comebacks this season than Florida. When the Capitals and Panthers last met on Nov. 30, Florida rallied from three goals down in the third period to stun Washington 5-4 in regulation. I鈥檓 curious if the Capitals jump out to an early lead or are ahead heading into the third period, if they can collectively lock things down and get the necessary saves from whomever is starting in goal.

What is the biggest Capitals’ storyline heading into the series?

El-Bashir: I would say it鈥檚 a tie going in Game 1 — the status of Alex Ovechkin and then who starts in between the pipes. I鈥檓 not sure I can really distinguish one being more important than the other. It looks like Alex Ovechkin is going to give it a go. It doesn鈥檛 look like he鈥檚 100 percent, but 75 percent of Alex Ovechkin is still better than most players in the league.

Andrew Gillis (NBC Sports Washington): It鈥檚 the goaltending situation. We鈥檙e probably going to see both goalies in the series. It鈥檚 going to be a yin and a yang thing with Vitek Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov. I think if you can get decent goaltending, you can hang around in the series. But if you get two goalies that are giving up soft goals or giving up goals that they shouldn鈥檛, then Florida is going to have their way with them. It鈥檚 going to be pretty tough for the Caps if they can鈥檛 get at least average goaltending.

Stephen Whyno (Associated Press): Alex Ovechkin is going to play. So, the biggest storyline is goaltending. If one of these teams gets great goaltending and the other team gets bad goaltending, then that鈥檚 the series. Period.

Sammi Silber (Washington Hockey Now): Definitely the goaltending. Whether it鈥檚 going to be Samsonov or Vanecek, I think it will unfold by one of them emerging as the hot hand and the team riding with it.

What is your under-the-radar storyline?

Pell: I think the underrated storyline is the play of Evgeny Kuznetsov and if he can actually bounce back and perform well in the playoffs. He has not done well in the playoffs since the 2018 Cup run and I think for him, he had such a consistent regular season that it will be really interesting to see if he can carry that into the playoffs and break out.

Silber: Definitely the secondary scoring. I think while Washington needs to tighten defensively against a group like this, I also think offensively they鈥檙e going to need more than just the top line or top power play. They鈥檙e really going to need the middle-six to step up consistently.

Whyno: Coaching. Panthers head coach Andrew Brunette has never coached in a playoff series in his career. This is not Joel Quenneville, who has won the Stanley Cup three times. Peter Laviolette has a Stanley Cup ring and three trips to the Final. We鈥檙e going to find out real quick if Andrew Brunette is as good of a coach as he鈥檚 looked in the regular season. We鈥檝e seen this with other coaches, where you kind of let guys go during the regular season, and then it comes down to strategy and matchups and adjusting in the playoffs and if Peter Laviolette outcoaches Andrew Brunette, then that is a major storyline.

Raby: The potential impact of the Capitals shutdown line. For all the attention that the headliners naturally receive in any playoff series, the Capitals checking line of Nic Dowd, Garnet Hathaway and trade deadline pickup Johan Larsson could be leaned on heavily against the NHL鈥檚 highest scoring team. Dowd and Hathaway have embraced these challenges before and both are coming off career years offensively.

Who can be the Capitals’ X-factor in this series?

El-Bashir: I鈥檓 going to go with Anthony Mantha. I think he鈥檚 played very well over the last month since coming back from his injury. He鈥檚 the type of player when you look at home at 6-foot-5, 234 pounds, he looks like a guy who should make an impact in the playoffs. He鈥檚 not a big hitter — he鈥檚 not Tom Wilson — but he can still muscle guys in front of the net and he can muscle guys in the corners when he wants to. If he can stay hot and chip in a few goals, he鈥檚 my X-factor.

Gulitti: I also think the X-factor is Anthony Mantha. He鈥檚 playing on the third line and he鈥檚 played decently there and if he can give them some production, he can be a difference maker. I think they need him to be.

Whyno:聽Evgeny Kuznetsov. We saw during the 2018 Cup run when he was the leading scorer and, along with Alex Ovechkin, drove that bus for them. If Kuznetsov is 鈥楶layoff Kuzy,鈥� then the Capitals have a better chance than people are giving them credit for.

Pell: I think the X-factor is T.J. Oshie. He always talks about the heart, hustle and effort — and if they don鈥檛 have every single player playing like T.J. Oshie in the playoffs, then I don鈥檛 think this Caps team can make it to six or seven games. Lars Eller said the other night that this team was not emotionally invested in the last three games of the regular season and that鈥檚 not what you want to hear going into the postseason. So, I actually think as clich茅 as it sounds, it鈥檚 all about effort and if they鈥檙e all playing like T.J. Oshie, I think the series can go six or seven.

Fill in the blank: The Capitals will win if ________

Gillis:聽They control the pace. I know it sounds like a basketball term, but they can鈥檛 get into a run-and-gun series with Florida. I think what they鈥檝e got to do is slow this thing down, take some pressure off whoever is going to be in net, and turn it into a more physical series.

Whyno: The Capitals will win if they can beat the heck out of the Panthers enough and take them out of their offensive game. I鈥檒l add to that the caveat of the Panthers not being able to adjust to playoff hockey, which the Capitals have shown they鈥檙e pretty good at.

El-Bashir: It鈥檚 going to be tough sledding. But I think they win if they can, over the course of the series, get some secondary scoring and get competent goaltending.

Gulitti: The Capitals can win if their goaltending holds up. Goaltending for the Capitals has to play solid. I don鈥檛 know if they鈥檙e going to be able to shut down Florida鈥檚 offense, but they can鈥檛 give up any free goals in the series. There are going to be goals scored anyways, so they need to play solidly and competently. They鈥檒l win if they get that and if they鈥檙e able to get to Bobrovsky. I think that is an area the Capitals can exploit — they know how to score goals when they鈥檙e playing the right way, and Bobrovsky has not been that good in the playoffs.

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