Nic Dowd is the ideal bottom-line center and has been a great addition in DC.
By the Numbers
| 56 | games played |
| 10.8 | time on ice per game |
| 7 | goals |
| 8 | assists |
| 54.7 | 5-on-5 shot-attempt percentage, adjusted |
| 58.0 | 5-on-5 expected goal percentage, adjusted |
| 61.9 | 5-on-5 goal percentage, adjusted |
Visualization by HockeyViz
About this visualization: This series of charts made by Micah Blake McCurdy of hockeyviz.com shows lots of information for the player over the season. A short description of each chart:
- Most common teammates during 5-on-5
- Ice time per game, split up by game state
- 5-on-5 adjusted shot attempts by the team (black) and opponents (red)
- 5-on-5 adjusted shooting percentage by the team (black) and opponents (red)
- Individual scoring events by the player
- 5-on-5 adjusted offensive (black) and defensive (red) zone starts
Peter’s Take
It took a while for it to click, but when it did, it was damn good. Nic Dowd was the fourth line’s mainstay all season, but he had varying company — as you can see from the first row of the hockeyviz graph above. The fourth line as we know it now — Hathaway, Dowd, and Panik — didn’t really play together until February, but when they did, awww yeah. In 47 minutes, that line owned 58 percent of shot attempts, 75 percent (!!!) of expected goals, and outscored opponents 4 to 1. That was by far the best iteration of that bottom line, and one of the best successes of the Washington Capitals during the regular season.
Here’s some genuine chemistry for you:
For five million dollars against the salary cap, Washington has a top-tier fourth line, and Dowd is at its heart.
Dowd also appears to be a penalty-kill star. In 138 minutes of PK time, he has been one of the chief factors (along with Jensen, Hathaway, and Kempny) in getting Washington’s penalty-killing unit up to elite status. Dowd scored three shorthanded goals– almost half of his overall goal production.
We’ve got at least two more years of Nic Dowd as a Washington Capital, and I’m psyched about it. I think he’s going to be a fan favorite real soon.
Dowder on RMNB
- Nic and Paige Dowd do a lot of charity work for autism. If you’re interested in supporting the autism community, I recommend the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and Autistic Inclusive Meets.
- Like me, Dowd has been doing partner-assisted haircuts since the pandemic hit.
- Unlike me, Dowd was a superstar for the virtual Capitals during the pause.
- Dowd skipped the NYE game as his wife Paige went into labor with their baby Louie. Louie is a stud.
- Dowd to Dillon: “Obviously, coming from San Jose, being a warmer city, DC is obviously a little colder. Did you bring your thermal underwear?”
- The Hathaway chemistry? It’s not just on the ice.
I’m torn on what to end this with. There are two clips, and they’re both great.
First, there’s Dowd just yeeting Svechnikov’s stick into the crowd — one of my absolute favorite plays of the season.
But then there’s also this, starring Arlo Dowd.
Stud.
Your Turn
What is there not to like about Nic Dowd? Nothing. He’s great. If only his last name were a breed of dog.
Read more: Japers Rink
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