Windy City win: numbers for the morning after

October 21, 2019 7:00 am

The Washington Capitals got their long road trip underway in Chicago, taking down the Blackhawks 5-3 for their third regulation time win in a row.

The Blackhawks out-shot the Caps 44 to 30 and out-attempted them at five-on-five 64 to 43.

This was the worst five-on-five effort from the Caps so far this season, but elite shooting and some great goaltending pushed them to a regulation victory on the road. Those two things, great shooting and goaltending, have been somewhat missing to start the season but good five-on-five play has not. It’s time to link all of those things into one effort.
Speaking of goaltending, Braden Holtby was called upon to make 41 saves in this win. He carried the Caps through long stretches of this game and it sure looks like the Holtbeast is back, ladies and gents.
Another factor in the win was continued good special teams. In their last three games the Caps have converted four times on the power play in ten opportunities and only allowed one power play goal against in ten opposition opportunities. That will win you games.

With a goal tonight, Alex Ovechkin extended his current point streak to seven games. Over his last seven games, Ovechkin has recorded nine points (5g, 4a). T.J. Oshie extended his current point streak to four games and has record five points (4g, 1a) over his last four games.

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) October 21, 2019

Hopefully the Caps find a nice ice bath in Canada because they blocked a season high 31 shots in this game. Michal Kempny, Dmitry Orlov, TJ Oshie, Tom Wilson, and Nicklas Backstrom all blocked three or more on their own.
Wilson also grabbed the game winning goal, the sixth in his career against the Blackhawks. He has not scored more goals against any other single franchise.
John Carlson‘s assist on Alex Ovechkin‘s goal gave him 18 points in ten games to start the season. In league history, only three defensemen have ever achieved this feat. The three being Carlson, Paul Coffey, and Bobby Orr (twice). Talk about company.