Stats

How Ovechkin and the Caps Have Fared in First Road Games of Season

(Caps Outsider)

After a three-game home stretch, the Caps are set for their first away game of the season on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. During the Alex Ovechkin-era, the Caps have fared relatively evenly in the first road game of the season, with an 8-6-2 record.

In the 2005-2006 season, Ovechkin’s rookie year, the Capitals lost their first road match, 8-1, against the then Atlanta Thrashers. Since then, the Caps have won eight, lost six, lost one in overtime and one in a shootout. Two of their victories also came on overtime, and another in a shootout.

During the span of the Ovechkin-era (past 16 seasons), the Caps have scored 58 combined goals and have given up 62 combined goals in their first away games. That is an average of 3.625 goals per game and 3.875 goals allowed.

In first away games, Ovechkin has recorded 12 goals (20.6% of all goals scored in those games during that span) as well as 8 assists for an average of .75 goals and .5 assists per game.

Heading into this season’s road match with the Devils, Ovechkin is off to another hot start with 6 points (4g, 2a) in the first three games. The Great Eight was even named one of the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the first week of action.

“[Ovi] jumps into the game and is a major factor in the game. I’ve only been here a short time but it seems like every night we’re acknowledging him for something. He’s passing somebody by or doing something special,” said Coach Peter Laviolette in a press conference after the home opener on Wednesday.

The Capitals were a perfect 8-0 against the Devils last season and will hope to continue that success this year.

Washington enters the game with two wins, against New York and Colorado, and an overtime loss to the defending Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning.

“It’s been a great start,” said Nick Jensen in a press conference Tuesday following the Capitals’ 6-3 victory over the Avalanche. “The game today was our best game of the three and that will be huge going on to the road.”

New Jersey comes into the game off a 4-3 win against the Blackhawks and a 4-2 win against the Kraken on Tuesday.

Date Opponent Score Ovi Stats
2005-10-08 Atlanta Thrashers L 1-8 1a
2006-10-05 New York Rangers L 2-5 N/A
2007-10-05 Atlanta Thrashers W 3-1 1a
2008-10-10 Atlanta Thrashers L 4-7 N/A
2009-10-01 Boston Bruins W 4-1 2g, 1a
2010-10-08 Atlanta Thrashers L 2-4 1a
2011-10-13 Pittsburgh Penguins W 3-2 OT 1g
2013-01-19 Tampa Bay Lightning L 3-6 N/A
2013-10-01 Chicago Blackhawks L 4-6 1g, 1a
2014-10-11 Boston Bruins W 4-0 2g
2015-10-20 Calgary Flames W 6-2 1g, 1a
2016-10-13 Pittsburgh Penguins L 2-3 SO N/A
2017-10-05 Ottawa Senators W 5-4 SO 3g
2018-10-04 Pittsburgh Penguins L 6-7 OT 1g
2019-10-02 St. Louis Blues W 3-2 OT 1g
2021-01-14 Buffalo Sabres W 6-4 2a

 

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