Caps Today and Game Notes for @ Tampa Bay
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:53 am
Today’s Storyline
A Big Plus – In Saturday’s 8-1 win at Atlanta, Jeff Schultz had the highest plus-minus rating (+5) of any Caps player in a single game this season. Schultz is second on the team to Alex Ovechkin in plus-minus at plus-23 for the season, and first among NHL defensemen. Over one third of that total has been accumulated in three games at Philips Arena this season, as Schultz is plus-8 with a goal and five assists in the Capitals’ three wins at Atlanta .
NOTE OF THE NIGHT
Baker’s dozen? – Washington has won 12 in a row against the Tampa Bay Lightning, a streak that began with head coach Bruce Boudreau’s first game against Tampa and stands as the longest winning streak against one team in Caps history. The streak includes seven straight wins at the St. Pete Times Forum since the Lightning last beat the Capitals, 5-2 on Nov. 16, 2007. Washington has only had one longer road winning streak against one team in its history (nine vs. NYI, 10/8/97-11/27/01).
FIVE MORE NOTES NO MEDIA PERSON SHOULD BE WITHOUT
Follow the leader(s) – Washington ’s 16-point advantage on Atlanta and Tampa Bay in the Southeast Division race marks the Capitals’ biggest divisional lead in franchise history. The Capitals’ affiliates also have substantial leads in their divisions: Hershey is 14 points up
in the AHL’s East Division and South Carolina is 16 points up in the ECHL’s South Division.
Turn on the red light – Washington has scored 17 goals in its last three games (5.67 per game), including tying a season high with eight goals Saturday night. Ten players have scored goals in the last three games. The Capitals’ league-leading 3.61 goals per game are 0.39 more than the next-closest team ( Chicago , 3.22). Washington has never led the league in scoring for a season (best was second in 1991-92).
3’s a charm – Defenseman Tom Poti has points in five straight games since returning from injury, one shy of his career-best six-game point streak (twice, most recently 2002-03). It’s the longest current streak of any NHL defenseman and includes a three-point effort Saturday at Atlanta . Poti has 10 points in his last 14 games after recording four points in his first 22. Ten of his points have come on the road (1g-9a) and eight have come in the third period (1g-7a).
First things first – The Capitals scored a first-period goal for the first time in five games Thursday night. Each of the last 10 times the Caps have scored in the first period they have scored at least two goals in the period. Washington leads the NHL with 51 first-period goals and has scored at least one goal in the first period of 31 of its 43 games. Washington has scored first in 29 of 43 games this year. When the Capitals have allowed the first goal they are 7-5-2.
Don’t Back down – Nicklas Backstrom – who has played the last six weeks at a 64-goal, 118-point pace (14g-12a in 18 GP) – is one of three players in the NHL with 15-plus goals and 30-plus assists (also Henrik Sedin and Patrick Kane). Backstrom recorded his 50th point Saturday in his 44th game, six games ahead of his pace from last season.
A Big Plus – In Saturday’s 8-1 win at Atlanta, Jeff Schultz had the highest plus-minus rating (+5) of any Caps player in a single game this season. Schultz is second on the team to Alex Ovechkin in plus-minus at plus-23 for the season, and first among NHL defensemen. Over one third of that total has been accumulated in three games at Philips Arena this season, as Schultz is plus-8 with a goal and five assists in the Capitals’ three wins at Atlanta .
NOTE OF THE NIGHT
Baker’s dozen? – Washington has won 12 in a row against the Tampa Bay Lightning, a streak that began with head coach Bruce Boudreau’s first game against Tampa and stands as the longest winning streak against one team in Caps history. The streak includes seven straight wins at the St. Pete Times Forum since the Lightning last beat the Capitals, 5-2 on Nov. 16, 2007. Washington has only had one longer road winning streak against one team in its history (nine vs. NYI, 10/8/97-11/27/01).
FIVE MORE NOTES NO MEDIA PERSON SHOULD BE WITHOUT
Follow the leader(s) – Washington ’s 16-point advantage on Atlanta and Tampa Bay in the Southeast Division race marks the Capitals’ biggest divisional lead in franchise history. The Capitals’ affiliates also have substantial leads in their divisions: Hershey is 14 points up
in the AHL’s East Division and South Carolina is 16 points up in the ECHL’s South Division.
Turn on the red light – Washington has scored 17 goals in its last three games (5.67 per game), including tying a season high with eight goals Saturday night. Ten players have scored goals in the last three games. The Capitals’ league-leading 3.61 goals per game are 0.39 more than the next-closest team ( Chicago , 3.22). Washington has never led the league in scoring for a season (best was second in 1991-92).
3’s a charm – Defenseman Tom Poti has points in five straight games since returning from injury, one shy of his career-best six-game point streak (twice, most recently 2002-03). It’s the longest current streak of any NHL defenseman and includes a three-point effort Saturday at Atlanta . Poti has 10 points in his last 14 games after recording four points in his first 22. Ten of his points have come on the road (1g-9a) and eight have come in the third period (1g-7a).
First things first – The Capitals scored a first-period goal for the first time in five games Thursday night. Each of the last 10 times the Caps have scored in the first period they have scored at least two goals in the period. Washington leads the NHL with 51 first-period goals and has scored at least one goal in the first period of 31 of its 43 games. Washington has scored first in 29 of 43 games this year. When the Capitals have allowed the first goal they are 7-5-2.
Don’t Back down – Nicklas Backstrom – who has played the last six weeks at a 64-goal, 118-point pace (14g-12a in 18 GP) – is one of three players in the NHL with 15-plus goals and 30-plus assists (also Henrik Sedin and Patrick Kane). Backstrom recorded his 50th point Saturday in his 44th game, six games ahead of his pace from last season.