The Capitals faced a disappointing 5-2 loss against the St. Louis Blues, marking their second consecutive regulation defeat. Connor McMichael stood out with strong offensive play, scoring a goal and assisting another, but the team struggled with execution and lacked the presence of Tom Wilson, who was sidelined due to illness. Despite making some line adjustments, the Capitals couldn’t generate consistent scoring chances and were hindered by defensive errors, allowing the Blues to take a commanding lead. As the trade deadline approaches, the Capitals seem to be in a strong position as contenders in the Eastern Conference, opting against major trades this year. While defenseman Ethan Bear has been a topic of discussion, reports indicate the team is leaning towards retaining him as a depth option. His impressive AHL performance with the Hershey Bears has put him in a good position for a potential NHL recall, though the current healthy state of the Capitals' defense has limited those opportunities.

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