17 – Number of days remaining until the 2015-16 season. But it’s also…
…the number of Alex Ovechkin power play goals that were assisted by Nicklas Backstrom. Five of the assists were primary and 12 were secondary. That total of 17 was well clear of any other tandem in the league – three duos were second with 10 – and one more than they had in 2013-14.
Mike Green and John Carlson each set up Ovechkin nine times on the power play to rank second on the team. Backstrom also assisted on five power play goals by Troy Brouwer, three by John Carlson, two each by Matt Niskanen and Joel Ward, and one by Marcus Johansson.