Record: 3-1-0
The Washington Capitals recorded their first three-win week of the
season, going 3-1-0. It was their sixth
straight non-losing week, although it happened to be only the third winning
week in that string (an overall record of 12-8-0). In winning the last three road games of the
week, it was the first time that the Caps won three consecutive road games
since doing it on February 25th, March 10th, and March 14th
of last season. It was the last time
that the Caps won three consecutive road games on the same road trip since
March 25-29 in the 2007-2008 season as part of their season-ending seven-game
winning streak to secure a playoff spot.
Offense: 3.25/game (season: 2.84 / rank: T-8th)
The NHL is a front-runner’s league, and for the Caps this week was no
exception. Washington won the three
games in which they scored in the first period, scoring two goals in each of
the wins over Winnipeg and again against the New York Rangers on Sunday. If one word described the Caps’ offense this
week it was this – "efficient." Washington
scored 13 goals on 102 shots (12.8 shooting percentage) overall and was 12-for-73
in the three wins to close the week (16.4 percent). The Caps were outstanding at even strength in
the three wins, scoring nine goals on 52 shots (17.3 percent)
Defense: 1.25/game (season: 2.81 / rank: 19th)
The Caps had a deceptive week defensively, at least as far as the
top-end numbers are concerned. Allowing
four teams a total of 119 shots on goal is not bad, but that should be tempered
by the fact that they held Winnipeg to only 20 shots in the 4-0 shutout on
Thursday. In each of the other three
games the Caps allowed opponents 30-plus shots. They allowed 95 shots on goal
at even strength (compared to 77 of their own).
They were “out-Fenwicked” in each game, even in the two blow-outs in
Winnipeg, allowing a combined total of 168 shots-plus-missed shots compared to
a total of 145 of their own.
Goaltending: 1.23, .958, 1 shutout (season: 2.78, .912, 4 shutouts)
It was Braden Holtby’s world, and welcome to it. Holtby started and finished all four
games. He was consistent and
occasionally brilliant. If not for a
one-in-a-thousand shot from a grinder that beat him far side where the crossbar
and post intersect, and a misplay of his own off the heel of his stick and into
his own net, he might have had a perfect record in first periods this
week. As it was, he stopped 34 of 36
first period shots for the week (.944 save percentage). He was even better in the second (37-for-38,
.974) and third periods (38-for-40, .950), as well as being perfect on five
shots in the only overtime period he played this week. His 4-0 whitewashing of
Winnipeg was his fourth shutout of the season, tying him for second, one behind
Nashville’s Pekka Rinne. Holtby has
seven fewer appearances than does Rinne.
Power Play: 4-15 / 26.7 percent (season: 24.8 percent / rank: 1st)
The word here is “consistency.”
Four games, four power play goals, one in each game. “Efficiency" would apply, too. The Caps recorded their four goals on a total
of 19 shots (21.1 percent shooting) and 22:33 of total power play time (15
power plays). If you had to look for an
analogy for the Caps’ power play, it might be a southpaw prize fighter. The Caps would jab-jab-jab with their right
hand – Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Ribeiro, and Mike Green working the right side
of the 1-3-1 set up. It would all be
prelude for loading up the big left hook.
That would be Alex Ovechkin on the left side of the formation, who
converted three of nine power play shots he took for the week (33.3 percent),
and one of his other shots on goal resulted in an assist on a Nicklas Backstrom
power play goal.
Penalty Killing: 11-13 / 84.6 percent (season: 77.1 percent / rank:
T-27th)
One could say that the Caps had a good week overall killing off 11 of
13 opponent power plays, but their sense of timing needed work. Both power play goals figured in the
decisions of those games. The Caps
allowed Paul Martin the game-tying goal on the power play in what would be a
2-1 loss to Pittsburgh. Then in the last
game of the week, the Caps allowed Derek Stepan to tie the game late in the
first period on a 5-on-3 power play. It
would be the last goal scored in regulation and overtime of the Caps’ game
against the Rangers. In a sense they
were quite efficient. Pittsburgh
peppered the Caps with nine power play shots (one goal) in 3:59 of power play
time. But in the last three games of the
week – all of them wins – the Caps allowed only ten power play shots in 17:54
of penalty killing time.
Paying the Price: 78 hits / 59 blocked shots (season rank: 21st
/ 9th)
The number of note here is the one you don’t see. The Caps had 78 hits this week, but they were
the victim, as it were, of being on the receiving end of 149 hits in four
games. Maybe it was the officieal scoring,
maybe it was being on the road and unfriendly rinks, maybe they didn’t pay
their bar bill, but the Caps were swamped in each game: 30-18, 37-18, 35-15,
47-27.
Faceoffs: 107-for-209 / 51.2
percent (season: 50.5 percent / rank: 15th)
The overall number look decent – a better than 50 percent week – but they
mask some odd goings on, too. For
example, the Caps were a superb 46-for-72 in the defensive zone over the four
games (63.9 percent) including a 15-for-16 performance in the defensive end in
their 6-1 win over Winnipeg on Friday.
Good thing, too, because as far as faceoffs were concerned, the ice was
tilted to the Caps’ end of the ice – 72 defensive zone draws taken against 60
in the offensive end.
Turnovers: minus-3
The unusual thing here is what looks like an odd official scoring effect in
Winnipeg. In Thursday’s game – a 4-0
Caps win – the two teams combined for a total of 17 giveaways (five for the
Caps, 12 for the Jets). In the second
game in Winnipeg of Friday night, the teams combined for 35 giveaways (20 for
Washington, 15 for Winnipeg). Did the
Caps get sloppier, or was it interpretation?
In the end…
The Caps grabbed back their season by the throat, clawing back to within
two points of a eighth place and five of the Southeast Division lead with a
game in hand on Winnipeg. But before we
get carried away with congratulations for the Caps on their resilience, let us
think about a few things. Is a 17.3
percent shooting percentage at even strength sustainable? Can the Caps improve on their record on the
road against non-Southeast Division opponents (yesterday’s win over the Rangers
was their first such win this season)?
They have five more such games.
Will teams adjust to the Caps’ 1-3-1 power play? Will Alex Ovechkin keep pounding home power
play goals at the rate of better than a goal every other game (four in his last
seven contests)? Is Braden Holtby
rounding into playoff mode, or is this merely a hot streak?
Cautious optimism are the watch words as the week ends. The Caps earned
their opportunity to fight for one of the eight playoff spots, no doubt about
that. But there are some questions about
whether the factors that propelled them to their most successful week of the
season are sustainable. It makes for an
interesting week coming up with another pair of road games – at Buffalo and at
Philadelphia – on the schedule. For the
first time in a while, the Caps will face a week in which all of their
opponents are below them in the standings (the New York Islanders being the
third team on the schedule). Buckle
up.
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