The Noon Number: Opening Statement

9 - Number of consecutive games in which the Capitals have scored at least one goal in the first period. Dating back to the win against the Wild on November 18, the Caps have racked up 15 first-period goals (and have given up just five to their opponents); prior to that, they had been outscored in the opening frame 18-16 and had gone three straight games without a first-period goal.

Last night also marked the fifth time in the last nine games that the Caps have multiple goals in the first 20 minutes, and just the second time all season that they’ve put more than two goals on the board to open a game (the first being their four-goal opener against the Habs way back on October 7).