The 2016-17 Washington Capitals are the best team in the NHL by a country mile. Tuesday, the Capitals won their tenth straight game at home. Washington’s 80 standings points puts them seven points ahead of the next closest teams, the Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Over the last two months, the Caps have gone on an absolute rampage through the rest of the NHL. We could use verbs like demolish, destroy, flatten, or level. Or adjectives like ridiculous, unmatched, or sublime. Yet even a 10,000 page Thesaurus would not have the words to describe how good this team has been lately.
Here are some hockey stats I would like for you to digest.
Via @EliasSports: #Caps have scored 5+ goals in 9 straight home games, becoming first team to do so since CGY on March 3-April 1, 1990 (9).
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) February 8, 2017
Best Goal Differential since December 31
1. #Caps +50
2. Islanders +14
Yes…a 36 goal difference between 1st to 2nd
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) February 8, 2017
The #Caps are 24-3-3 this season when leading after the first period and have outscored opponents 58-23 in the first period this season.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) February 8, 2017
Last 8 #Caps home games:
5-0 vs Carolina
5-0 vs LAK
5-3 vs Boston
6-1 vs Carolina
5-0 vs Flyers
6-0 vs Chicago
5-2 vs Pittsburgh
5-0 vs CBJ
— Rob Carlin (@RobCarlinCSN) February 8, 2017
#Caps beat #NHLCanes 5-0. Braden Holtby 12-0-0 in his last 12 decisions with four shutouts over that stretch.
— Ben Raby (@BenRaby31) February 8, 2017
The Capitals last failed to score 5+ at home on New Years' Day. Since then, they also have now recorded consecutive SOs three friggin times.
— Alex Prewitt (@alex_prewitt) February 8, 2017
That's a franchise record 10 shutouts on the season.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) February 8, 2017
This is the Caps right now.
And here are some more amazing numbers from the Caps PR:
The Capitals have scored five or more goals in nine straight home games, becoming first team to do so since Calgary on March 3-April 1, 1990 (9).
The Capitals have posted a 22-5-1 record at home this season and have won 10 consecutive home games, marking their longest home winning streak since they won 12 straight home games last season (11/21/15-1/17/16). During its home-winning streak, Washington has outscored opponents 50-12 and posted five shutouts. In addition, Washington has earned a point in 12 consecutive home games (11-0-1) and in 15 of its last 16 home games (13-1-1).
The Capitals have tallied a point in 19 of their last 21 games (17-2-2) and have posted a 24-4-3 record since Dec. 5. In their last 21 games, Washington has outscored opponents 90-40.
Washington has earned a point in 12 of its last 15 games against the Hurricanes (11-3-1) and has posted a 23-8-3 record against Carolina since 2010-11. In addition, the Capitals have won six straight games against the Hurricanes at Verizon Center.
The Capitals have scored four or more goals in 15 of their last 20 games (12/31-2/7) and are 24-0-1 this season in games when they score four or more goals.
There’s only ONE WORD to describe Washington AND I’M GONNA SPELL IT OUT FOR YA. S-E-N-S-A-T-I-O-N-A-L.
Full Coverage of Caps vs Canes
Photo by Patrick McDermott