26.0 – Per-game shots-on-goal-against average over their last five games, a span during which the Caps have allowed 30 or fewer shots on goal in each game (30, 29, 18 , 29 and 24) while going 3-2. That’s the lowest five-game SOGA average since a five-game stretch in March of 2017 (that also included visits to San Jose and Los Angeles) in which they allowed just 22.8 shots-against.
Granted, the team trailed throughout most of those Anaheim and L.A. losses (so score effects were holding down opposition shot totals). But for a team that hadn’t allowed fewer than 31 shots on goal in so much as three-straight games since the end of last season, perhaps there’s a glimmer of reason to be encouraged.