The Washington Capitals have lost three games in a row to kick off their first-round playoff series against the New York Rangers. Teams very rarely escape a 3-0 series hole in the playoffs so we can just about put a lid on the 2023-24 season.
Another decent effort marred by poor special teams play.
- The Capitals really played well in this game at five-on-five but unfortunately about a full period’s worth of time was spent with either team on a power play. At five-on-five, Washington held positive differentials in shot attempts (+9), scoring chances (+3), and high-danger chances (+6). Yes, some of that is definitely score effects and the Rangers sinking back into a 1-4 trap late in the game but the Capitals really did have some great moments at even strength. There was just no beating Igor Shesterkin after he let in that John Carlson softy.
- The big story is obviously the Capitals going 0-for-6 on their power play. They also allowed a shorthanded goal for the second straight game and the penalty kill gave up another Rangers power-play tally. Just another absolute mess from both units. I’m not sure where the late-season power play went or if that was just a hot shooting mirage.
- This was the first game of the series where Igor Shesterkin really stamped his mark on a win. Per MoneyPuck, Shesterkin stopped 2.37 more goals than expected in his 27-save victory.
John Carlson scores his first goal of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs and his 20th career postseason goal to open the scoring. Carlson's 20 playoff goals are the fourth most among active defensemen (Brent Burns: 23; Kris Letang: 23; Victor Hedman: 22).
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) April 26, 2024
- I’ve been thoroughly impressed by Alex Alexeyev during these three games. The Capitals have been fantastic with him on the ice at five-on-five, seeing 59 percent of the shot attempts, 71.1 percent of the expected goals, 66.7 percent of the scoring chances, and 76.5 percent of the high-danger chances. Only John Carlson (52:39) and Martin Fehervary (52:18) have played more at five-on-five than Alexeyev (49:34) for the Capitals.
- Good little tune-up for Ivan Miroshnichenko after he’s sat out healthy for the past few weeks. I thought he was noticeable in a good way on a few shifts but got hampered by a third of the game being played on power plays. Let’s hope he gets another run out in Game Four so he can keep building back up before the Hershey Bears take on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in their first playoff series in a handful of days. Miro fired two shots on goal in 9:31 of total ice time.
- In Stanley Cup Playoffs history, 209 times (as of April 26) a team has faced a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series. Only four times they overcame it, a success rate of just under two percent. The last team to do so was the 2014 Los Angeles Kings who completed a reverse sweep of the San Jose Sharks in a first-round matchup.
Numbers thanks to Hockey-reference.com and NaturalStatTrick.com.
