Special teams can be the difference in a playoff series. If two teams are even while at full and even strength it will probably be the power play or penalty kill that will determine which team will win that series.
So far in the Washington Capitals series vs the Florida Panthers, the Caps have been the better team. They really have not had to rely on special teams. For most of the series they have been able to shut down the Panthers high flying offense.
When you look at the stats it really does not tell you who the better team has been. In this series Florida has a Corsi% of 57.68%, a scoring chance for percentage of 53.85%, a high danger attempts percentage of 51.47% and an expected goals percentage of 53.79%. All of those numbers suggest that the Panthers have clearly been the better team in this series.
They haven’t.
The Capitals have also been better on special teams. In this series the Caps have a combined special teams percentage of 129.4%. Florida on the other hand is at a very bad 70.6%. All of the Panthers percentage comes via the penalty kill, they are 0% on the power play in four games. The Capitals are obviously 100% on the penalty kill and 29.4% on the power play.
Washington is the only team in these playoffs who has a 100% PK. That penalty kill is holding down a Panthers power play that was top five in the NHL during the regular season. In the 82 game season the Cats power play was clicking at a 24.4% rate. That was fifth best in the league.
Not only is the Caps penalty kill not allowing goals, on most power plays Florida has trouble generating many great chances.
Something the Panthers were very good at in the regular season was generating chances on their own penalty kill. Washington has not allowed that either. In the regular season Florida was one of the most threatening teams while on the kill. They scored 12 shorthanded goals, which was second on the circuit. They also generated 69 scoring chances which was third best in the league.
So far in this series I haven’t seen a single chance while the Capitals have been on the man advantage.
Not only are the Caps not giving up short handed chances, as the power play percentage tells you, they are scoring goals. The Capitals have scored a power play goal in every game this series, they scored two PPG’s in game 3 as well.
Special teams have certainly been a big factor in this series.
Even though Washington has been the better team 5v5 too Florida is outscoring them 9-6 while at full strength. While it hasn’t looked like the Panthers have been the better team Washington has needed the power play to click. So it has been a bit of two different worlds there. Washington has been the better team while 5v5, but Florida scoring more while at full and even strength.
Special teams can decide series. This Capitals-Panthers series is definitely a series where the special teams will be playing a major role. With the series tied 2-2, it’s a best of three now. Watch for special teams to help decide a winner in these last couple of games.