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Washington Capitals: Top 5 observations so far in 2019

By Michael Marzzacco

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals gets focused prior to the game against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on November 20, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals gets focused prior to the game against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on November 20, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 13: Radko Gudas #3 of the Washington Capitals warms up against the Philadelphia Flyers on November 13, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 13: Radko Gudas #3 of the Washington Capitals warms up against the Philadelphia Flyers on November 13, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The defense

The Capitals offseason was spent looking for players that were going to help defensively. It was tough getting an early read on the defense but now that we’re a quarter in we’ve seen some good games and we’ve seen some bad.

Unsurprising, it’s taken some time for the defense to form chemistry. Losing Brooks Orpik to retirement and Matt Niskanen to the Philadelphia Flyers was part of it. Another part was not having Michal Kempny ready in time for opening night.

As a team the Capitals have allowed 72 goals. That’s tied for seventh in the league. The Capitals are in the middle of the pack in allowing shots per game with 31.4 shots against but have allowed the third most shots overall with 572. They’ve also allowed 483 scoring chances, the fourth most in the league. Their scoring chance save percentage is another bad stat, 85.52 percent, 20th in the NHL.

There’s still time for the defense to adapt and they hope to improve with the stellar play of John Carlson leading the charge, a rise in play from Jonas Siegenthaler as well as newcomer Radko Gudas who was once a villain in these streets but has become a favorite among the fans and team.

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