45 – Number of shots on goal given up by the Caps last night in their win over the Jets. That’s just the second time they’ve given up at least 30 shots in a game this season, and the first time they’ve been outshot. The Caps have averaged just 27.2 shots-against per game this year, sixth-best in the League (and had been at an even 25.0/game coming into last night).
Last night wasn’t just a rarity within this season; it’s tied for the most shots they’ve given up in a single game since Barry Trotz took over behind the bench, and just the fifth time they’ve cracked 40 shots against during his tenure. In fact, since the start of the 2014-15 season, only Carolina and Minnesota have had fewer games in which they’ve allowed 40+ shots, and no team has given up 36+ shots in a game fewer times than the Caps (15).
It wasn’t just the sheer volume of shots, either… the Caps only managed 27 shots of their own, putting the shot differential at -18. That’s the largest such differential in the Trotz era, topping the previous high of 16 set way back in November of 2014 when they were outshot 40-24 by the Blackhawks.