Ten imaginary games into an imaginary 2012-2013 season, the
Caps sit with a 5-3-2 record, good for second in the Southeast Division behind
the Carolina Hurricanes (6-3-0). It is
not quite the 8-2-0 record the Caps compiled in their first ten games last
season, but it is still a 98-point pace for the season.
On the bright side, the 29 goals compiled so far has the
team ranked ninth in scoring offense, the 2.90 goals per game so far an
improvement over the 2.66 with which they finished last season. On the other side of the ledger the 25 goals
allowed represents a 2.50 goals per game average, which ranks 11th
in the league.
Special teams are a mixed bag. The power play suffers an old problem – not enough
work. At this time last season the Caps
already had 38 man advantages, converting them at a 23.7 percent pace. Through ten games so far this (imaginary)
season the Caps are only 4-for-25 (16.0 percent). The penalty kill is faring better, allowing
fewer opportunities than at this time last season (33 to 36) and is killing a
larger share of them off (84.8 percent to 75.0 percent).
Individually, Alex Ovechkin is off to a fine start. His 8-5-13 start is an improvement over his
ten-game start last season (5-5-10). And
although Nicklas Backstrom (1-8-9) is not quite on the pace on which he started
last season in his first ten games (4-10-14), he does not seem to be suffering
any lingering effects of the concussion that cost him half a season in
2011-2012.
If there is a bit of a surprise it is that all eight
defensemen on the roster have registered at least one point in the first ten
games. Even Jack Hillen (0-1-1 in his
only appearance) and Jeff Schultz (0-1-1
in two games) have points.
On the other side, the Caps might have expected a faster
start from Mike Ribeiro (2-3-5 through ten games), and Wojtek Wolski has but
two assists in five games for which he has dressed.
In goal, Michal Neuvirth has taken a firm hold on the number
one role, compiling a 5-2-1 record with a 2.25 goals against average and a .927
save percentage. On the other hand,
Braden Holtby’s start has been somewhat slower.
Through ten games Holtby is 0-1-1, 3.09, .886 in three appearances.
The team leaders at the ten-game mark of this imaginary
season are as follows:
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