Dave Preston

Washington, D.C.

Sports Reporter at WTOP-FM (Washington, DC)

Dave anchors and reports sports for @WTOP. Proud @newhouseSU grad. He's made college football and basketball his personal hill. AP Top 25 and Big Ten voter.

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Articles

Nationals Notebook: Riding the storm out (waiting for a thaw out)

2 days ago | wtop.com | Dave Preston

The Washington Nationals are back in D.C. following the team’s longest road trip of the season. This trip delivered a bit of everything — from suspensions after throwing inside, to a game that was snowed out. The 4-6 trip was far from ideal and precedes an April finish that includes dates with division foes Philadelphia and the New York Mets, but when you visit clubs from the East, Central and West Divisions over the span of a week, you’re just trying to ride the storm out.
Capitals 5-on-5 Playoff Preview: Matching up with Montreal

2 days ago | wtop.com | Dave Preston

The Washington Capitals’ second season starts Monday night, and they aren’t just looking to build off of their first division title in five years but also trying to win their first playoff series since they captured the Stanley Cup in 2018. Here are five things to focus on regarding the Caps’ First Round series against the Montreal Canadiens:1. How they got hereThe Capitals went 51-22-9 during the regular season, winning the Metropolitan Division title by 12 points over Carolina.
Lighting the lamp: Preparing for the playoffs

6 days ago | wtop.com | Dave Preston

The Washington Capitals wrapped up the regular season in less than stellar fashion, slipping at Pittsburgh 5-2 Thursday night to post their first losing month in what has been otherwise an outstanding season. As they were on track to clinch home ice through the first three rounds for some time, the losses weren’t necessarily that much of a concern (unless they lose game 1 to Montreal, of course). And this month of meandering was more than a mirage but the start of a potential season-ending slide.
Nationals Notebook: Road trip delivers two more tests

1 week ago | wtop.com | Dave Preston

The Washington Nationals knew they would have a less-than-soft start to their schedule, highlighted by series against the last three National League champions, plus bellwether meetings with the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets. In the middle is this 10-game road trip that might not look too tough on its face (Miami, Pittsburgh and Colorado all missed the playoffs last season).
Nationals Notebook: Dealing with the Dodgers

2 weeks ago | wtop.com | Dave Preston

The Washington Nationals only took a week and a half to post their first series win of the season, prevailing Saturday and Sunday against Arizona. The month of April involves a 10-game road trip and dates with the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets, but first, the Nats brace for the defending World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers. LA cooled off over the weekend but still has more wins than any other team in MLB.
8 great moments on Ovechkin’s road to 895 goals

2 weeks ago | wtop.com | Dave Preston

Alex Ovechkin has grown up before fans’ eyes, excelling from the moment he set foot in the NHL. As he puts the finishing touches on a Hall of Fame career that includes his ascent to the summit of scoring in the NHL, it’s fun to look back and celebrate the highlights of a magical 20 years. There are many more than eight great moments to Ovechkin’s career with the Washington Capitals, but here are some that merit mention:1-BEGINNING WITH A BANGOvechkin scored two goals in his NHL debut on Oct.
As Ovechkin chases history, he knows that his teammates helped him along the way

3 weeks ago | wtop.com | Dave Preston

Not everyone can keep pace with greatness. And while Alex Ovechkin looks to conclude his 20-year chase of Wayne Gretzky’s 894 career goals, he knows he hasn’t scaled hockey’s heights alone. Over the years he’s skated with a wide array of teammates on his line, from one-night pairings to long-term situations. And just like every bird is not meant to soar with the eagles, not every player has the right stuff to skate on the same line as Ovi. “It takes a very smart player to play with Alex Ovechkin.
Mic’ing up for Ovechkin’s milestone: 2 DC announcers prepare for historic call

3 weeks ago | wtop.com | Dave Preston

The countdown to 894 has brought extra eyes to TV sets and additional ears to the radio for the opportunity to witness hockey history being made. Alex Ovechkin scored his 891st career goal Tuesday night for the Washington Capitals, inching him closer toward breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record. Two men will provide the filter for the historic goals (894, 895, 900 and beyond) whenever they occur. Joe Beninati has been in the booth for Ovechkin’s entire career.
Lighting the Lamp: Ovechkin looking for a date with destiny

3 weeks ago | wtop.com | Dave Preston

“Lighting the Lamp” is a new WTOP feature added this winter. Take a look back at the inaugural article, if you missed it. The Washington Capitals will play nine regular season games in April with a pair of targets in their sights: home ice advantage (at least through the first three rounds) is well within reach, and with a little help, the Presidents’ Trophy could be theirs as well.
Nationals Notebook: Start to the season shows promise and pitfalls

3 weeks ago | wtop.com | Dave Preston

Welcome to the 2025 season! Who’s ready for this team to contend? The Washington Nationals dropped two of three games to the reigning NL East champs while showing plenty of promise (MacKenzie Gore was outstanding on Opening Day) plus concern (the bullpen had issues the first two days in key spots). As we discover what this team can do or what they can’t over the first few series, keep the term “small sample size” ready at all times.