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Horrible Blue-Line Crumbles as Caps Best Dman Goes LTIR

October 14, 2017, 11:53 AM ET [11 Comments]
James Tanner
Washington Capitals Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
First: The Good news.

The Washington Capitals defeated the Devils 5-2 and have improved their record to 3-1-1 after five games. After going five games and not scoring more than one goal in any of them, during the preseason, it's a surprisingly strong start to the season.

Especially if you consider that their blue-line is top-heavy and features three of the worst players in the NHL (or did, until Chorny was replaced with Djoos).

But more on that in a second. We're doing the good news.

Ovechkin scored again. He's now got an incredible nine goals to start the season.




The Bad News:

The Capitals have four players from the top-half of their lineup over 50% CF.

Despite having nine goals in five games, Ovechkin is just getting really lucky. He's at 43%. Now, in a short sample, the fact that he's scoring and the play is ending, instead of continuing on, is going to effect that.

In addition, however, he is shooting 46% has a PDO of 115. A 101 PDO means you're getting lucky. Ovechkin is freebasing Leperachaun blood, basically.

Now, when you add in the fact that this level of scoring is 100% guaranteed to level off, balance out and massively regress, to the recent bad news of a Matt Niskanen broken wrist things get dicey.

This is a team that is already making Brooks Orpik one of the most used skaters in the entire NHL. Removing the best defenseman from a team that already has a terrible defense is never a good thing.

The Caps have recalled Madison Bowey to fill in. Sounds OK until you remember that they already cut him in order to play Aaron Ness and Taylor Chorny. Two players so bad the Caps are forced to play Brooksie like he's a Nick Lidstrom.

So where looking at a defense that will feature Orpik, Chorny, Ness, and Bowie. In other words, maybe it's a good thing they still have next year's first round pick.
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