It’s six games into the regular season and the Capitals are already off to a much better start than last season. The Caps are 5-1-0 this season, whereas at this point last season they were 2-3-1.
A big factor in that record difference is the ability of the Capitals to score more goals this year. The Caps have already scored twice as many goals as they did this time last year (13 vs 26). Coupled with some key saves from their goaltenders, the Caps are now out-scoring their opponents while last season they were being out-scored.
What’s even more encouraging is that nearly every line and D-pairing is contributing to the offense. Here’s what the goal & scoring chance contribution has looked like when each line and D pairing is on the ice, per Natural Stat Trick.
Protas-Strome-Ovechkin: 4 goals, 28 scoring chances
McMichael-Dubois-Wilson: 6 goals, 24 scoring chances
Mangiapane-Lapierre-Vrána: 0 goals, 17 scoring chances *Though they haven’t scored as a line yet, individually Mangiapane has 3 points (2g, 1a) and Vrána has 2 points (1g, 1a).
Raddysh-Dowd-Duhaime: 2 goals, 29 scoring chances
Carlson-Chychrun: 8 goals, 33 scoring chances
McIlrath-Fehérváry: 1 goal, 17 scoring chances
Sandin-TvR: 5 goals, 23 scoring chances
Still, no game has been perfect. The Caps are taking a few too many penalties, and the power play is a little concerning at 9.5%. That’s third-to-last in the league right now.
Playing a heavier, harder style like the Caps seem to be doing this year can be tiring, too. And tired players are more prone to mental and physical mistakes. We saw that on full display in the final 10 minutes of the second period during Wednesday’s game against the Flyers. Head coach Spencer Carbery even commented on it postgame, saying “we were absolutely gassed, physically and mentally. Poor decisions and we were back on our heels.”
With a day off Thursday, the Capitals will have some time to recuperate after their first road trip and home-and-home of the season. They’ll next take on the Tampa Bay Lightning away on Saturday at 7pm, followed by a game at home Tuesday against the New York Rangers at 7:30pm.
