With the Washington Capitals’ 5-0 beatdown over the Philadelphia Flyers, the franchise records their 1500th win, and their current streak extends to nine games.
Do you get how big this is? The Caps had a 14-game streak in 2010, but this one has been so much more dominant. I’m trying to figure out how to impress upon you how special this run has been, and adjectives fail me. Mind-blowing, explosive, cataclysmic. Nope.
Here, lemme try this.
The Caps have not allowed a 5-on-5 goal since January 3
Six games ago, Toronto was the last team to crack them during evens. That was nearly 300 minutes ago.
The Caps have outscored opponents 40 to 11
League parity is important, I guess? I don’t actually care. This is way too much fun.
The Caps have scored 5 or more goals six times
It’s basically the ’86 Oilers out there right now. RMNB readers have memorized the words to “Bailamos.”
Just two games were decided by one goal: Toronto and Ottawa
Safe is death. It’s the only thing John Tortorella has ever been right about.
Caps goalies have had 4 shutouts in 9 games
Three of them belong to Braden Holtby, who won the Vezina last year and is the hands-down favorite to repeat. #Holtblessed
But everybody cool out real quick
The Caps are scoring on 15.7 percent of their shots, which is almost double league average. The Caps have gone shorthanded 43 times during the streak, almost double their opponents’ 22. Star defenseman John Carlson is possibly injured, and there is a glut of tough back-to-back games in the schedule coming up. It’s not all puppy dogs and sunflowers.
But then again…
The Caps are #1 in the NHL
The Blue Jackets don’t play again until Tuesday. On Monday, Washington will face the Penguins. So, for the next 24 hours at least, the Caps rule the roost.
Headline photo: Patrick McDermott
