Capitals Media Poll: Ovechkin, OT & Top Scorer Predictions For 2022-23

ARLINGTON, V.A. — The Washington Capitals are officially kicking off the 2022-23 campaign on Wednesday against the Boston Bruins. And with the season finally here, colleague Ben Raby from the Capitals Radio Network reached out to our crew of beat reporters for our annual preseason predictions.

Below are the results (which we will be sure to revisit on April 14, the day after the 82-game campaign).

How Many Goals Will Alex Ovechkin Score In 2022-23?

Tarik El-Bashir (The Athletic): 42

Tom Gulitti (NHL.com): 45

Samantha Pell (Washington Post): 48

Ben Raby (Capitals Radio Network): 44

JJ Regan (NBC Sports Washington): 44

Sammi Silber (Washington Hockey Now): 48

John Walton (Capitals Radio Network): 44

Matt Weyrich (NBC Sports Washington): 51

Stephen Whyno (Associated Press): 48

When will Ovechkin pass Gordie Howe with his 802nd goal?

El-Bashir: Dec. 27 @ New York Rangeers

Gulitti: Dec. 15 vs. Dallas Stars

Pell: Dec. 31 vs. Montreal Canadiens

Raby: Dec. 31 vs. Montreal Canadiens

Regan: Dec. 17 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Silber: Dec. 19 @ Detroit Red Wings

Walton: Jan. 6 vs. Nashville Predators

Weyrich: Nov. 15 @ Florida Panthers

Whyno: Jan. 8 vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

How many points will Evgeny Kuznetsov record this season?

El-Bashir: 70

Gulitti: 89

Pell: 70

Raby: 72

Regan: 79

Silber: 78

Walton: 68

Weyrich: 85

Whyno: 72

How many games will be started by each Washington Capitals Goalie?

El-Bashir: Kuemper 56; Lindgren 25; Fucale 1

Gulitti: Kuemper 58; Lindgren 24

Pell: Kuemper 58; Lindgren 24

Raby: Kuemper 58; Lindgren 22; Fucale 2

Regan: Kuemper 56; Lindgren 26

Silber: Kuemper 56; Lindgren 26

Walton: Kuemper 58; Lindgren 24

Weyrich: Kuemper 50; Lindgren 28; Stevenson 3; Fucale 1

Whyno: Kuemper 60; Lindgren 22

How many shutouts will Washington Capitals goalies combine for?

El-Bashir: 6

Gulitti: 4

Pell: 5

Raby: 6

Regan: 4

Silber: 8

Walton: 5

Weyrich: 7

Whyno: 10

Who Will Be Selected And/Or Represent The Washington Capitals At The 2023 NHL All-Star Game?

El-Bashir: Ovechkin, Carlson

Gulitti: Ovechkin, Carlson

Pell: Ovechkin, Carlson

Raby: Ovechkin, Kuemper

Regan: Ovechkin, Carlson, Kuemper

Silber: Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, Kuemper

Walton: Ovechkin, Carlson

Weyrich: Ovechkin, Kuznetsov

Whyno: Ovechkin, Kuemper

When will Tom Wilson make his season debut?

El-Bashir: Dec. 27 @ New York Rangers (because he’s assisting on Ovechkin’s 802^nd. Duh!)

Gulitti: Dec. 9 vs. Seattle Kraken

Pell: Jan. 11 @ Philadelphia Flyers

Raby: Dec.9 vs. Seattle Kraken

Regan: Dec.15 vs. Dallas Stars

Silber: Dec. 17 vs. Toronto Maple Lefas

Walton: Dec. 15 vs. Dallas Stars

Weyrich: Dec.9 vs. Seattle Kraken

Whyno: Dec. 15 vs. Dallas Stars

Which East team(s) will make the playoffs after missing last year?

El-Bashir: OttawaSenators

Gulitti: New York Islanders

Pell: New York Islanders

Raby: None

Regan: Ottawa Senators

Silber: Ottawa Senators

Walton: Ottawa Senators

Weyrich: Ottawa Senators

Whyno: Ottawa Senators

Which prospect(s) will make NHL debut with Capitals this year?

El-Bashir: Bobby Nardella

Gulitti: Vincent Iorio; Bobby Nardella

Pell: Bobby Nardella

Raby: Vincent Iorio

Regan: Vincent Iorio

Silber: Vincent Iorio, Bobby Nardella

Walton: Vincent Iorio

Weyrich: Vincent Iorio, Bobby Nardella, Clay Stevenson

Whyno: None

 

Who will lead the Capitals in fighting majors (how many)?

El-Bashir: Tom Wilson (4)

Gulitti: Garnet Hathaway (6)

Pell: Garnet Hathaway (3)

Raby: Garnet Hathaway (4)

Regan: Tom Wilson (4)

Silber: Garnet Hathaway (5)

Walton: Garnet Hathaway (5)

Weyrich: Garnet Hathaway (4)

Whyno: Garnet Hathaway (5)

Indicate, in order, the Capitals’ top-3 power-play goal scorers

El-Bashir: Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, Strome

Gulitti: Ovechkin, Oshie, Kuznetsov

Pell: Ovechkin, Oshie, Strome

Raby: Ovechkin, Strome, Oshie

Regan: Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, Carlson

Silber: Ovechkin, Oshie, Strome

Walton: Ovechkin, Strome, Kuznetsov

Weyrich: Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, Strome

Whyno: Ovechkin, Strome, Oshie

How many Washington Capitals games will go beyond regulation (“Pell Special”)?

El-Bashir: 19

Gulitti: 18

Pell: 82

Raby: 18

Regan: 27

Silber: 19

Walton: 25

Weyrich: 19

Whyno: 18

Which Washington Capitals will hit the 20-goal plateau?

El-Bashir: Ovechkin, Strome, Kuznetsov, Brown

Gulitti: Ovechkin, Mantha, Strome, Brown, Oshie, Kuznetsov

Pell: Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, Mantha, Strome

Raby: Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, Mantha, Strome

Regan: Ovechkin, Kuznetsov

Silber: Ovechkin, Strome, Kuznetsov, Brown, Wilson

Walton: Ovechkin, Strome, Mantha, Brown

Weyrich: Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, Strome, Brown, Mantha

Whyno: Ovechkin, Strome, Kuznetsov

Who will be the Washington Capitals’ leading point-getter among North Americans?

El-Bashir: Strome

Gulitti: Mantha

Pell: Strome

Raby: Carlson

Regan: Carlson

Silber: Carlson

Walton: Strome

Weyrich: Brown

Whyno: Strome

Who will be the Washington Capitals’ leading goal-scorer among North Americans?

El-Bashir: Strome

Gulitti: Mantha

Pell: Mantha

Raby: Mantha

Regan: Strome

Silber: Strome

Walton: Strome

Weyrich: Oshie

Whyno: Strome

How many games will Aliaksei Protas play?

El-Bashir: 53

Gulitti: 53

Pell: 68

Raby: 66

Regan: 36

Silber: 59

Walton: 75

Weyrich: 73

Whyno: 15

TIE-BREAKER: The Chick-Fil-A Cow will be spotted most frequently in this section at Capital One Arena…

El-Bashir: 402

Gulitti: 402

Pell: 118

Raby: 419

Regan: 418

Silber: 107

Walton: 418

Weyrich: 112

Whyno: 420