Yikes: numbers for the morning after

February 18, 2018 9:02 am

It’s no mistake that today’s “numbers for the morning after” post has a headline photo from warmups. That’s because warmups were the last time the Caps had a chance to win Saturday night’s 7-1 pummeling committed by the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks out-shot the Caps 44 to 20 and out-attempted them five-on-five 56 to 37.

Did you know that the Blackhawks were on an eight game losing streak prior to Saturday night’s tango?
Saturday night’s game was the first in Alex Ovechkin‘s career that he did not record a shot attempt at all strengths. 978 games. This would be a bigger story if Ovi wasn’t clearly the best player on the Capitals this season. Just an off night.
The one positive of the night came with Tom Wilson‘s first period goal. That strike gave Willy Baby ten goals on the season. Double digits! Now everyone go throw coins in wells and wish for the first line to not be broken up even after this shellacking.
Somehow Nicklas Backstrom ended up with a plus-one rating. The only player on the Capitals to do so.
Nate Schmidt is now only one five-on-five goal behind TJ Oshie this season.
The Blackhawks did not score eight goals.
The Nashville Predators have not beaten the Detroit Red Wings since December 30, 2013.
If it feels like I struggled for relevant stats, it’s because I did. You all don’t want to hear about Alex Debrincat’s hot streak (he has 8 goals in his last 11 games). This was a game full of Blackhawk highlights and nothing else.

Doesn’t matter who’s in net for #Capitals when this happens, they’re being outshot 21-6 after 1st, attempts 29-9 & chances 14-4 in Hawks favor. Other night Wild only had 16 shots after two periods pic.twitter.com/Ic1MbifnNz

— Alan May (@MayHockeyNBCS) February 18, 2018