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The Noon Countdown: Locked Down

Apr 9, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren (79) makes a save in front of Detroit Red Wings left wing Lucas Raymond (23) and defenseman John Carlson (74) in the second period at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

23 – Number of days remaining until the start of the Washington Capitals’ 50th season. But it’s also…

…the number of seasons out of those 50 in which the Capitals have averaged fewer than three goals-against per game. Their best mark over that span was back in 2016-17, when they gave up an impressive 2.16 goals/game – which also happened to be the fewest of that season, and is the second-lowest average in the years since (trailing only the 2022-23 Boston Bruins).

Unsurprisingly, the worst squad was the 1974-75 Capitals, who ceded an appalling 5.58 goals per game (that’ll happen when you’re both historically bad and share a division with a Montreal Canadiens team from the ’70s). That mark has not been touched since, although it is somehow only the fourth-worst of all time…all hail the 1919-20 Quebec Bulldogs.

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