Capitals’ Clay Stevenson to make NHL debut in team’s regular-season finale against Penguins

Thursday will be a day to remember for Clay Stevenson.

On recall with the Washington Capitals, the 26-year-old netminder will make his NHL debut Thursday against the Metropolitan Division rival Pittsburgh Penguins, Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery confirmed to Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post.

This season, Stevenson has seen 33 appearances with the AHL affiliated Hershey Bears in which he has put together an 18-8-4 record coupled with an .888 save percentage, 2.94 goals-against average, and two shutouts. In all, through part of three seasons with the Bears, Stevenson has a 45-18-7 mark with a .907 save percentage, 2.44 goals-against, and nine shutouts. Alongside fellow netminder Hunter Shepard last season, Stevenson helped guide the Bears to a Calder Cup championship while also sharing honors of the Harry Holmes Memorial Award, presented to the league’s best goaltending duo.

Joining the Capitals in 2022 as an undrafted free agent, Stevenson’s pro experience also counts a single season with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays where in 36 outings he went 19-12-4 with a .916 save percentage, 2.54 goals-against average, and three shutouts.

Prior to beginning his pro career, the native of Drayton Valley, Alta., spent three seasons with the BCHL’s Coquitlam Express highlighted by the 2019-20 campaign where through 35 games he led the league with a .936 save percentage and 1.77 goals-against average to earn a spot on the BCHL’s First All-Star Team and recognition as the league’s top goaltender. Stevenson later spent a single single with the NCAA’s Dartmouth Big Green in which he went 6-14-2 while posting a .922 save percentage, 2.70 goals-against average, plus a pair of shutouts in 23 games to earn a spot on the ECAC’s All-Rookie and Third All-Star Teams.

Following Thursday’s contest against the Penguins, the Capitals will open the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens.