Capitals are one of just 2 NHL teams without a player in the 4 Nations Face-Off. It could help them WSOC TV [Video]

ARLINGTON, Va. — (AP) — Cruising to the top of the NHL standings by winning 36 of their first 54 games and losing just 11 in regulation, the Washington Capitals solidified themselves as a team to watch this spring.

For much of the next two weeks, they’ll be watching everyone else.

The Capitals are the only team in the league not to have a player chosen for the 4 Nations Face-Off international tournament between the U.S., Canada, Sweden and Finland, and one of just two without representation after San Jose traded Mikael Granlund to Dallas last week. Perhaps that turns out to be a benefit for them, while other contenders in the Eastern Conference have plenty of players involved.

“I’m sure everyone that was kind of on the bubble there probably would have liked to have been a part of it,” Washington winger Andrew Mangiapane said. “But I think internally and selfishly, I guess, for us, it gives everyone a two-week break, almost, to recover. We’ve played a lot of games …