Perfect Start Has Caps in Happy Place
Remember when Chubbs instructed Happy Gilmore to find his happy place?
Well, it would seem that the Washington Capitals have been caddied to early season success by a guy who preaches some of the same things.
With a start to the season that has seen the Caps gaining momentum like a snowball shooting down the side of a mountain, there doesn't seem to be much to be worried about in DC these days.
Off on a western swing that will see them finally face some adversity in the form of the rigors of travel, Washington can go to a perfect 10-0 if the can handle the Oilers and Canucks, respectively, before they return home to the Verizon Center to face the Ducks . It won't be an easy task, especially given that the Oilers have sprung to life, the Canucks are no walk in the park and with Jonas Hiller back between the pipes in Anaheim, the Ducks aren't going to roll over either.
Yet after watching the Caps assert dominance in a way I've never seen before as they handled the Detroit Red Wings by an astonishing score of 7-1, it begs the question if things haven't fallen into place this time around?
No doubt management has been toiling away for many of the past years trying to build up a club that could not only compete but absolutely dominate during both the regular season and playoffs and, though they have yet to achieve the full picture, it certainly would seem like the balance on this roster is sending it on the right course.
It's been a lot of fun to watch as the tension has eased away from the Caps dressing room and the positivity carries on yet it won't continue forever.
So, as they seek to extend their season opening winning streak, the next true test for these Capitals will be how they react to defeat. They clearly have shown no problem following up a win with a win, but as in the past, it will ultimately come down to how they respond to adversity.
That said, in doubling up opponents, the Caps currently sit 2nd in the NHL with 4 games in hand on their arch rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Here's a run down of how they've done through 7 wins...er, games:
Wins: 7 - rank = 1st overall
Losses: 0 - rank = 1st overall
Points: 14 - rank - 2nd overall
Goals For: 4.14 - rank = 1st overall
Goals Against: 2.00 - rank = 6th overall
5 on 5: 2.22 - rank = 1st overall
Power Play: 29.6% - rank = 2nd overall
Penalty Kill: 81.8% - rank =
19
SoG for: 29.9 - rank = 15th overall
SoG Against: 32.7 - rank = 25th overall
Team FO%: 48.3% - rank = 23rd overall
PIM/Game: 8.1 - rank = 1st overall
Hits:176 - rank = 13th overall
Takeaways: 88 - rank = 1st overall
Giveaways: 49 - rank = 27th overall(*4th fewest allowed)
Blocked Shots: 102 - rank = 24th overall
With league leading or respectable totals in every category but the penalty kill, shots on goal, faceoffs and blocked shots, it's easy to see why they're doing so well.
Though they could improve the penalty kill, and blocked shots as a result, there's no rush for them to do so as they are the most disciplined team in the NHL. Though they certainly need to improve, if they can refrain from sending players to the box all that often, it really won't be a problem.
The same goes for the shot totals. While it would be nice to see them have more shots for than against, on average, that has yet to effect their play. Though it says that teams are gaining more advantage in the offensive zone than the Caps, the proof is that the Caps are doing much more damage when they sustain pressure.
As a result of this great start, many other items have popped up that continue to signal how bountiful the Caps depth truly is;
- There are 18 players with at least 1 point, each having played a minimum of 5 games.
- There are no minus players on the roster.
- Marcus Johansson's 3 game winners stand out in a roster that has balanced nearly everything.
- 11 players have 10 or more shots in 7 games, only 2 boast more than 20.
- Mike Green, Roman Hamrlik and Dennis Wideman are the only 3 players averaging over 20 minutes of ice time per game.
- Brooks Laich and John Carlson lead the team in shifts per game. 14 players are averaging 20 + shifts per game.
- 9 forwards boast 4 points or more as Nicklas Backstrom leads the team with 10 in 7 games played, followed by a tie between Alex Ovechkin and Dennis Wideman.
- Backstrom's back. He's one of the players that is benefiting positively from the team's new depth, showing that he's no longer feeling adverse effects from the pressure of last season.
- As far as Ovechkin is concerned, he doesn't have to prove he can score goals to anybody. What he does need to prove is that he can win. And his attitude thus far has been captain-like, demonstrating nothing less than a serious commitment to doing whatever he can to help his team win. Even if it means playing less.
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