26.8 – Average shots-against per game allowed by the Capitals since February 4, second-lowest rate in the League over that span behind Colorado (25.7). That’s an incredible improvement over the first three weeks of the season, when they averaged 32.9 shots-against per night – the fifth-highest rate.
The Caps have allowed fewer than 30 shots in eight of their last nine games; the lone exception was their overtime loss to the Penguins, which featured 37 shots by Pittsburgh. By contrast, they only held opponents below 30 shots four times in the first 13 games of the season – and twice gave up more than 40 shots (although both of those games did go beyond regulation),
In last night’s shootout win over Boston, the Caps held the Bruins to just 19 shots, their lowest shots-against total of the season and the only time this year that their opponent has failed to crack the 20-shot mark.