Today’s Noon Number: 1.45 – Even strength goals per game scored by the Caps this season, down 32% from last year (2.12 ES goals/game). The team’s goals-for at even strength per 60 this year is 1.8, down from 2.4 last year. Interestingly enough, the shot production has remained relatively constant (actually up to 28.1 per sixty minutes from 27.9), meaning the big difference has been in their shooting percentage, which is just 6.4% this year, down from 8.6% a year ago (which would mean roughly five more goals this season if they were converting at last year’s rate).
By the way, that total includes just one goal at five-on-five from a guy who started the season on the top line – Nicklas Backstrom’s breakaway goal against the Flyers last week.