6 – Number of Capitals’ defensemen who have played 15 games and are averaging 17+ minutes of ice time a night, the only team in the NHL with that many defensemen seeing as much action – in other words, an incredibly balanced blueline.
10 other teams have five defensemen meeting that criteria (NY Islanders, San Jose, Montreal, Florida, Detroit, Colorado, Boston, Anaheim and Arizona); the rest of the teams have four or fewer.