Caps host Bruins tonight — lone Cap One preseason, 7 p.m. MNMT

Tonight at Cap One

The Washington Capitals host the Boston Bruins on Friday, Sep. 25, puck drop 7:00 p.m. ET on MNMT (radio: Team 980 / Caps Radio Network) at Capital One Arena — the club’s only Capital One Arena exhibition this autumn (Capitals.com).

The Caps enter 1-0-1 in the exhibition slate (loss at Boston in a shootout; 5-2 win vs Flyers in Hershey). Coach Spencer Carbery framed Friday as mostly a “dress rehearsal” of the expected opening-night roster — the night locals actually get to see that group under Cap One lights before the cuts harden.

Alex Ovechkin returned to practice Thursday after missing time with a lower-body issue; Carbery was noncommittal on whether he plays Friday or Saturday (Capitals.com). Sport DMV is not inventing lines or who dresses. Confirm the lineup on the club board.

Preseason context (club)

• Caps enter 1-0-1 in the exhibition slate (loss at Boston in a shootout; 5-2 win vs Flyers in Hershey)
• Coach Spencer Carbery: Friday is mostly a “dress rehearsal” of the expected opening-night roster
• Alex Ovechkin returned to practice Thursday after missing time with a lower-body issue; Carbery was noncommittal on whether he plays Friday or Saturday (Capitals.com)
• Next: Saturday at Philadelphia (late afternoon), then idle until the Oct. 2 opener at Carolina
• League opening-night 23-man roster deadline: 5 p.m. ET Monday, Sep. 28

Sport DMV read

This is the only Cap One preseason look — treat it like a soft opening night for the seats that matter. Watch whether Ovechkin dresses and how the projected opening group handles Boston before the Saturday Philly closer and Monday’s roster deadline.

The Capitals page is the hub. Last desk: Flyers 5-2.

*Friday morning desk, Sep. 25, 2026. Analysis refresh. Tip/TV and Ovechkin practice note from Capitals.com; arena listing from Capital One Arena.*