The Noon Number

by Becca H on Feb 16, 2012 12:01 PM EST in The Noon Number

32.4 – Average shots per game for the Caps over their last 5 games, up from 24.6 in the 5 games prior (and a season-long rate of 27.6, tied for fourth-lowest in the NHL). They are just 1-3-1 during that span, putting up their lowest shot total of the five in their one win against Florida.

The Caps have only cracked the 30-shot mark eight times under Dale Hunter, three of which have come in the last five games – prior to their 36-shot performance against the Bruins, the Caps hadn't had at least 30 shots in a game since January 7.

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So shots don’t mean squat? Learned that lesson in the Montreal series. Scoring chances, now there’s a stat!

by dcrothman on Feb 16, 2012 12:03 PM EST reply actions

I’d bet the Caps dominated scoring chances against MON too. I think if the lesson you learned from the MON series is “shots don’t mean squat” you probably learned the wrong lesson.

Please, call me F&B.

by Rob Parker on Feb 16, 2012 12:06 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Yep. Montreal broke even on scoring chances against only Philadelphia.

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by red army line on Feb 16, 2012 2:29 PM EST up reply actions

Caps out-chanced them 85-53 over the last three games.

FML.

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by J.P. on Feb 16, 2012 2:33 PM EST up reply actions

Ouch

"By far the worst performers on the (R*dskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins

by smutsboy1 on Feb 16, 2012 2:52 PM EST up reply actions

In the Habs’ wins in the first two rounds, they were outchanced by 16, 4, 16, 12, 15, 14, 3, and 22. They generated ~38% of the scoring chances but 49% of the goals. Sigh…

So…the Caps generating more shots/chances because they’re losing (a la skid last season), or because they’re getting better?

Red Line Station and @RedArmyLine, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
I believe in next year.

by red army line on Feb 16, 2012 3:05 PM EST up reply actions

The won 8 games without even scoring a majority of the goals?

Please, call me F&B.

by Rob Parker on Feb 16, 2012 4:31 PM EST up reply actions

What was the MTL/WAS series in puck luck terms? 700 vs. 1300?

by CapsDegenerate on Feb 16, 2012 10:42 PM EST up reply actions

…the team they got destroyed by. WTF.

Please, call me F&B.

by Rob Parker on Feb 16, 2012 4:30 PM EST up reply actions

Relying on memory so I hope it’s not too selective—but as I recall the Flyers got all over Halak in his crease in that series. The Caps and the Pens gave him far too much room. Not enough screening or bumping or hovering in his face in their respective series.

Upon reflection (still bitter about the game 7 call against Knuble) I surmised that the reason the Flyers didn’t get the goalie interference penalties or disallowed goals was because how the hell can the ref see if Halak was interfered with or not if there’s a mess of players in the crease.

Ovechkin on how he can help the team: "Score MOAR goals."

by capsyoungguns on Feb 16, 2012 4:41 PM EST up reply actions

Halak also just straight up turned into a pumpkin that series. His “shaky” glove hand that was robbing the Caps and Pens was suddenly whiffing on shots or leaving juicy rebounds for the Flyers.

Release the Mackan!

by Killer_Carlson on Feb 16, 2012 4:45 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Also how many times in that series did any Cap get any penalty for being too aggressive in the crease or front of the goal (besides possibly an odd interference call)?

Brooks Laich – of all people – got a cross-checking penalty in front of their goal last game. Not a particularly good penalty for him to take, but a perhaps benchmark moment for him and the team as far as what’s on the table. Have we seen him do something like that before? That blatantly intentionally?

I used to be a hockey player, but then I took an arrow in the knee

by Icebat on Feb 16, 2012 5:09 PM EST up reply actions

No, I agree with you (sloppy writing on my part). The Caps didn’t get aggressive in the crease. And they needed to be in that series to get Halak off his game. At best they had one player often Knuble park himself nearby. K-C is right that Halak turned into a pumpkin against the Flyers, but they also did a better job of getting aggressive with him. I guess it’s a bit of a chicken and egg scenario but I thought the Flyers aggression got under his skin causing him to falter.

Brooksie getting testy and crosschecking in the crease as a current ray of hope for this team—yeah I like that idea.

Ovechkin on how he can help the team: "Score MOAR goals."

by capsyoungguns on Feb 17, 2012 1:27 PM EST up reply actions

I learned way too many lessons from that series…

by dcrothman on Feb 16, 2012 12:09 PM EST reply actions

Turnin’ the corner!
Headin’ towards easy street!
etc
etc

"By far the worst performers on the (R*dskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins

by smutsboy1 on Feb 16, 2012 12:09 PM EST reply actions

How’s the puck possession been in those 5 games? That’s the real stat…better, worse, or the usual.

by OvechkinGR8 on Feb 16, 2012 12:15 PM EST reply actions

All these numbers just funnel into a bucket that is labeled, “we’re just not that good.”

If you've read this far...seek help.

by ThePeerless on Feb 16, 2012 12:26 PM EST reply actions

And meanwhile, ANA keeps bowling over pretty much everyone they play. Damn.

"I'd have to say Russian girls over American girls. They have much better fashion sense, I think." -Semyon Varlamov

by KillerTestudo on Feb 16, 2012 3:09 PM EST up reply actions

It’s nice when your goalie starts making saves.

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by J.P. on Feb 16, 2012 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

the regular season was rarely Boudreau’s problem as a coach.

"By far the worst performers on the (R*dskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins

by smutsboy1 on Feb 17, 2012 10:25 AM EST up reply actions

A stat that is in alignment with what some of us have been observing in recent games: that they’ve actually been doing notably better at generating offensive chances, but they have not been very good at finishing them.

I used to be a hockey player, but then I took an arrow in the knee

by Icebat on Feb 16, 2012 4:23 PM EST via mobile reply actions