86.5 – Capitals’ Special Teams Index (the combined total of the team’s power-play and penalty kill efficiencies) over the past 17 games (11.5% power-play, 75.0% penalty kill), a span over which the team is 4-8-5. More recently, the Caps have posted an 83.6% STI over their last eight games (3.6% PP, 80.0% PK, 1-5-2 record). The team’s special teams struggles have STI at a season-low 102.4, which makes this Noon Number feel like forever ago.
Graphically, the slide has looked like this:
Finally, in raw numbers, the team’s special teams plus-minus (power-play and shorthanded goals scored minus those allowed) over the course of the campaign looks like this, thanks to the current drought which, over the past nine games, features the Caps scoring and yielding as many shorties as power-play tallies (1):
For more, check out Laich the Lamp, who took a closer look at what’s been goin’ on.