Capitals Aim to Overcome Playoff Odds Against Leafs

Washington sits in sixth place in the Metropolitan Division, three points behind the final playoff spot.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 5:00pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game in progress, with the players and ice rink fragmented into sharp, overlapping planes of navy blue, red, and white.The Capitals' playoff push is a study in contrasts, with their postseason hopes hanging in the balance as the regular season winds down.Philadelphia Today

The Washington Capitals are battling to keep their playoff hopes alive as they prepare to face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night. Currently sitting in sixth place in the Metropolitan Division, the Capitals are three points behind the Philadelphia Flyers for the final divisional playoff spot.

Why it matters

The Capitals have been a consistent playoff contender in recent years, making the postseason in 7 of the last 10 seasons. A failure to qualify this year would be a significant disappointment for the franchise and its fans.

The details

The Capitals need to leapfrog the Columbus Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers in the standings to claim a playoff berth. With just a few games remaining in the regular season, the team knows they have their work cut out for them to overcome the current deficit.

  • The Capitals take on the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, April 7, 2026.

The players

Dylan Strome

A forward for the Washington Capitals who believes the team can still make the playoffs despite the odds.

Washington Capitals

An NHL hockey team based in Washington, D.C. that has been a consistent playoff contender in recent years.

Philadelphia Flyers

An NHL hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that currently holds the final playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division.

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What they’re saying

“If you told us at the beginning of the season that we'd have a pretty good chance at getting 95 points, that's usually enough to get into the playoffs,”

— Dylan Strome, Washington Capitals Forward

What’s next

The Capitals must win their remaining games and hope the Flyers and Blue Jackets falter in order to claim a playoff spot.

The takeaway

The Capitals' playoff hopes rest on their ability to string together wins in the final stretch of the season and get help from other teams in their division. Despite the long odds, the team remains confident they can overcome the current deficit and extend their postseason streak.