The Washington Capitals suffered another frustrating loss on Thursday, a 6-3 failing to the reigning back-to-back champion Florida Panthers.
The Capitals have struggled all year to finish on offense, and the game against the Panthers was another head-scratcher despite secondary scorers finding the net three different times. The Caps dominated in possession — the process stats — but led in the game for only 28 seconds.
Shots: 40-28 WSH
Shot Attempts (5v5): 71-41 WSH
Scoring chances (5v5): 30-25 WSH
High-danger chances (5v5): 14-13 WSH
Expected goals (5v5): 3.05-2.37 WSH
Goals (5v5): 3-3 tie
What ultimately made the difference was special teams: the Panthers went 2-for-5 on the man advantage, while the Capitals went 0-for-2. Eetu Luostarinen then scored an empty-netter, and that was that.
After the game, Spencer Carbery was asked whether it was hard to continue trusting the process with the team sitting second-to-last in the Eastern Conference with 17 standings points (8-8-1 record).
Spencer Carbery:
Yeah, I mean, it’s not going to change. I mean, I know the results. Obviously, everybody wants the results to come. Of course you do. You want guys to score goals. You want guys to have big years.
At the end of the day, if we’re putting ourselves in good spots and we aren’t finishing… we’re going to continue to work, nothing’s going to change with that. We’re going to continue to problem-solve. We’re going to continue to try to find ways to score more goals. We’re going to continue to try to find line combinations that have chemistry. We’re going to continue to try different players, Ryan Leonard, whoever it might be, in those spots.
So that’s – the process isn’t going to change just because we’re not scoring goals. Like, that’s just not how it works. We’re going to continue to do things because eventually, you know, pucks should go in and players will get here that can shoot the puck in the net, and that’s all you can trust in.
At five-on-five this season, the Capitals have the second-best expected goals percentage (57.2%) and the third-best five-on-five shot attempt percentage (55.2%) in the league, per Natural Stat Trick. They have also generated the third-most high-danger chances (185). These are the numbers of an elite hockey team.
But with centerman Pierre-Luc Dubois out longterm due to injury and the group of Alex Ovechkin, Dylan Strome, Aliaksei Protas, and Connor McMichael not producing on a nightly basis, the team has struggled to score in big moments and in general, too, potting only 49 goals in 17 games.
There’s a famous saying: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” With Carbery already telling the press “the answers are here” — AKA a trade or a major call-up from Hershey not coming — the players that are going to solve this mess are the ones currently on the roster.
So, the Capitals are going to test that theory, and let’s hope they don’t lose their minds in the process.
The New Orleans Saints are finalizing preparations for the stretch of the 2025 season, with roster moves settling in and young players carving out their first real roles. But away from the practice field, one surprising off-field decision has drawn national attention.
As the franchise locks in its 53-man roster, focus should be squarely on football. Yet, the personal lives of rookies often become intertwined with the spotlight, especially when outside distractions collide with the demands of the NFL.
This week, a first-year Saint made a headline-grabbing decision unrelated to football. For him, staying in New Orleans’ long-term plans meant not only competing on the field, but also managing the pressures of celebrity attention off it.
That rookie is running back Audric Estimé, who recently secured a spot on the Saints’ 53-man roster after being elevated from the practice squad. Shortly after that milestone, he ended his relationship with a well-known social media celebrity, an online star with millions of followers and a massive global audience.
The influencer built her brand through music, lifestyle content and viral posts that turned her into one of the most recognizable young digital personalities. Her reach and visibility inevitably brought heightened scrutiny onto Estimé as he adjusted to life in the NFL and tried to solidify his role in New Orleans.
The rookie explained his choice candidly in a private conversation that has since circulated among team circles:
“Right now, I need to focus on building my career with the Saints. There were too many cameras, too many eyes on my life off the field. I need peace, I need focus – if not, I will lose my chance and get left behind in New Orleans.”
Fans immediately reacted across X and Instagram, some applauding Estimé for putting football first, others sympathizing with his former girlfriend and questioning the pressure placed on young players to sacrifice their personal lives. The split fueled debate over the challenges rookies face in balancing relationships with the ruthless demands of professional sports.
For Audric Estimé, cracking the 53-man roster is only the beginning. By cutting ties with distractions and the glare of social media celebrity culture, the rookie signaled that his priority is clear: proving himself in the Saints’ backfield and earning trust in New Orleans for years to come.