~96 points is typically about the playoff cutoff in a full 82 game season. In order to get to 96 points, the Capitals would need to play at a ~104 point pace for the rest of the season.
They have to be realistic at this point. Tom Wilson is a good player but he's not going to turn this offense into a dynamo. Dmitry Orlov is a good player but he doesn't turn this team from a 78 point team into a 104 point team.
I've said it before but they need to consider this season lost in terms of competing for a Cup. Given that I think after this road trip or soon after they need to fire Laviolette. He's not the guy long-term so why continue to keep him around? He's not doing the team any favors in the medium or long term even if you want to argue there's no one better in the short term available to hire.
They also need to start looking at trading players now for whatever they deem to be an acceptable return. There's no downside to trading guys like Sheary, Eller, Johansson, Gustafsson, TVR, Mantha, etc. If the young players who step in stink, who cares! At least you know they stink, and also they're increasing their lottery ticket odds if they stink.
They can and probably should punt on guys like Kuznetsov, Carlson, and Oshie until the offseason because their contracts likely make it difficult for an in-season trade. But they really should be looking at Orlov, Jensen, and Wilson with a very critical eye toward ~3 years from now when Washington can next be realistically competitive. Are these guys likely to be a big part of a contending Capitals team in 3 years? If not I think they have to consider getting rid of them now if the return is acceptable.