The Washington Capitals downed the Arizona Coyotes 4-1 on Saturday night, and just like Alex Ovechkin earlier in the night, tallied a milestone in the process. With the victory, their 31st on home ice this season, the team set a new franchise record for wins at home.
The win also gave the Capitals a three-point cushion over the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins for first place in the Metropolitan Divsion and NHL.
What the Capitals have accomplished at home this season is incredible. With two games left on home ice coming up in April (4/5 New York Rangers and 4/9 Florida Panthers), the Caps could set the bar even higher by season’s end.
Check out these stats via the Capitals PR.
- The Capitals have posted a 31-6-2 record at home this season, which gives them the franchise record for home wins in a season over the 1985-86 and 2009-10 Capital teams (30 victories).
- Washington leads the NHL in home wins this season and has earned a point in 25 of its last 27 home games (12/5-3/25: 23-2-2).
- Braden Holtby now owns the franchise record for home wins in a season (26-6-2), leapfrogging over Olie Kolzig in 1999-00 (25-7-8) and himself last season (25-3-3).
- According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Holtby is the first goaltender to win 25 home games in two straight seasons since Martin Brodeur did so in an NHL record three consecutive seasons (2005-08).
Dang.
Full Coverage of Caps vs Coyotes
Headline photo by Patrick Smith
