After the New York Islanders defended their home turf for perhaps the final time, the Caps’ will take the Verizon Center ice, where they’ve played some of their finest hockey of this series, for Game 7, where they’ve historically played some of their worst. But before getting caught up in the stresses and stakes of an ultimate series tilt, let’s revisit Game 6 and take a lot at what worked for the Washington Capitals, and what didn’t.
Here’s a look at what worked in Game 1, Game 2, Game 3, Game 4, Game 5…and now, let’s look back at Game 6.
What Worked
Last week, prior to game 5, we illustrated the Caps’ inexplicable inability to earn more powerplays than their playoff opponents. In the next game, the Caps picked up three powerplay opportunities, while going shorthanded only twice. On Saturday afternoon, they drew three more powerplay opportunities, while only serving up one.
- The Power Play
But it wasn’t the goal itself that’s promising, though it’s certainly welcome. It’s the rate at which the Caps are getting pucks towards the net. In the regular season, their shot-attempt rate on the power play was a League leading 115.9 shot-attempts per 60 minutes. On Sunday, in their three opportunities, the Caps were firing away at a rate of 133.1 attempts/60.
Here’s a look at shot-attempt generation through the series.
Granted, it’s pretty easy to argue that such a small sample size renders rate stats meaningless, but the Caps’ also pumped 8 PP shots on goal in Game 6— more than any other game in the series (six in Game 5, three in Games 1, Game 3, and Game 4, and two in Game 2.
What’s there to really say here? The Caps haven’t given up a power play goal in 6 games. Whatever they’re doing here, keep doing it, and as long as they keep doing it, it’ll continue being the most obvious component of their game that’s working. One really fantastic way to keep a streak like this in tact, which the Caps’ have done well with, is staying out of the box.
In six games they’ve given the Isles’ 13 chances to go a man to the good. Those 2.16 power plays per game is one entire power play fewer than what the Isles’ were used to receiving throughout the year (3.25 power plays/game), and one entire power play fewer than what the Caps’ were used to killing off (3.24 times shorthanded/game).
What Didn’t Work
- 4v4 Play
So it stood to reason that when they game was played at 4v4 for almost four consecutive minutes halfway through the second period, it was a prime opportunity to make some noise on the scoresheet. Instead, the Caps spent most of the time in their own zone— taking 5 faceoffs there, compared to 0 in the Isles end of the ice— and only forcing Jaroslav Halak to make two saves.
- The Top Line
These guys need to bring it in Game 7, or a very pesky narrative about legacy and springtime shortcomings is almost guaranteed to rear its ugly (and categorically unfair and idiotic) head.
- Taking Advantage of a Depleted Blueline
Matt Donovan eventually was escorted from the game for a 10 minute misconduct, forcing Jack Capuano to go to a 5 man rotation on his already thin blueline. Didn’t matter. They were up to the task. Pretty major missed opportunity here, though with the benefit of last change, Barry Trotz will be in a much better position to exploit it during Game 7. It’ll be interesting to see how much Capuano leans on his young blueliners in an elimination game in a tough barn. Donovan finished the game with 9:09 of 5v5 TOI despite his 10 minute misconduct, and Mayfield finished with 10:30. That’s not a lot, but it’s not nothing either.
Apart from being a ready pair of knuckles during the rough stuff, you have to wonder exactly what positive contributions Gleason is currently bringing to the on-ice product, and if it might be time to leash the Glease, cuz’ he’s playing like a piece of treesh.
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Home ice, a roaring crowd, a hated division foe. The table’s set. Time to eat.