IN THE ZONE
- John Carlson: 3-game point streak (3g, 1a); 2-game goal streak (3g) - Lars Eller: 2-game point streak (2a); 2-game assist streak (2a)
Note of the Night GELLING PAIRS
- The Capitals are the only team in the NHL to have three defensive pairs skate together for at least 350 minutes at five-on-five (John Carlson and Brenden Dillon: 448:49; Zdeno Chara and Nick Jensen: 353:55; Dmitry Orlov and Justin Schultz: 353:43). Additionally, each combo is averaging at least 10 minutes of five-on-five time per game with each other (Orlov and Schultz: 12:11; Carlson and Dillon: 12:07; Chara and Jensen: 10:24).
- Each one of the pairs has a positive goals-for percentage at five-on-five (Chara and Jensen: 12 goals for, 11 against, 52.17 goals for percentage; Orlov and Schultz: 13 goals for, 12 against, 52.00 goals-for percentage; Carlson and Dillon: 23 goals for, 22 against, 51.11 goals for percentage).
- Of the 35 defensive pairs in the NHL to skate together for 350 minutes of five-on-five, 25 have a positive goals-for percentage. Only five other teams (Minnesota Wild, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights) have two pairs with a positive goals-for percentage at five-on-five and 350 minutes together.
- The Capitals haven't had three defensive pairs skate for 10 minutes of five-on-five time per game and skate together for at least 350 minutes since the NHL began tracking the data in 2007-08. Additionally, Washington hasn't had at least three pairs who skated together for 350 minutes at five-on-five record a positive goals for percentage since 2016-17 (five pairs).
- Over the previous two seasons combined (2018-19 and 2019-20), the Capitals had two pairs skate together for 350 minutes at five-on-five and record a positive goals for percentage (2019-20: Carlson and Michal Kempny: 57.63 goals for percentage, 593:57 minutes at five-on-five; 2018-19: Carlson and Kempny: 59.79 goals for percentage, 800:22 minutes at five-on-five).
- Chara and Jensen have started 27.27 percent of their five-on-five shifts outside of their offensive zone (21 offensive zone starts on 289 shifts on the fly), the lowest percentage among pairs with 350 minutes at five-on-five in the NHL (info via Natural Stat Trick).
Top Caps Facts DMITRY SC-ORLOV
- Dmitry Orlov scored the overtime-winning goal on Friday against the New Jersey Devils, his first overtime goal of the season and second of his career (Nov. 29, 2019 vs. Tampa Bay).
- Orlov, who has five goals this season, also recorded his second game-winning goal of the season, tying his total from last year in 37-fewer games.
- Additionally, his five goals this season have surpassed his total of four last year, and his five goals are his highest total since setting his career high of 10 in 2017-18.
- Orlov's two overtime goals over the last two seasons is tied for the second-most by a defenseman in the NHL. Only Toronto's Morgan Reilly (6g and 2otg) has a higher percentage of overtime goals per total goals.
- Orlov is also one of 13 defensemen to record at least four game-winning goals over the last two seasons. Only New York Rangers defensemen Adam Fox (5gwg on 12g) has a higher percentage of game-winning goals per total goals than Orlov.
GREAT 8
- Alex Ovechkin has 18 goals this season and has 10 goals in his last 12 games.
- Ovechkin's 18 goals this season are tied for sixth in the NHL, trailing Toronto's Auston Matthews by six goals for the League lead, through games played April 2.
- Ovechkin's 14 goals scored at even strength are tied for fourth, through games played April 2.
- Ovechkin is tied for seventh in the NHL in goals per 60 minutes of five-on-five play (1.58) among skaters with at least 10 games played this season.
- Ovechkin is now eight goals shy of surpassing Marcel Dionne (731g) for fifth place all-time.
ROAD vs. NJD
Record Goals For Goals Against Current Streak
50-47-7-7 322 321 3 WSH Ws (2/27/21-4/2/21)
CAPITALS vs. DEVILS ALL-TIME (CAREER TOTALS)
Games Goals Assists Points
Chara (81) Ovechkin (35) Backstrom (38) Ovechkin (70)
Ovechkin (64) Backstrom (17) Ovechkin (35) Backstrom (55)
Backstrom (57) Eller (9) Carlson (29) Carlson (36)
SUPER CARLY
- John Carlson leads the Capitals with a three-game point streak (3g, 1a) and a two-game goal streak (3g).
- Carlson's goal on Friday against the New Jersey Devils marked his 10th of the season. He became the fourth defenseman in franchise history to record at least six 10-goal seasons for the Capitals (Sergei Gonchar and Kevin Hatcher: seven times; Scott Stevens: six times).
- Carlson's 10 goals this season rank fourth among defensemen in the NHL, while his 32 points (10g, 22a) are tied for second (Victor Hedman: 34 points; Tyson Barrie: 32 points), through games played April 2.
- Should Carlson finish the season ranked first among defensemen in points, it will mark the first time a defenseman has led the NHL in back-to-back seasons since Erik Karlsson did so in 2014-15 and 2015-16.
- That would also mark the third time in his career Carlson has led the NHL in points among defensemen (2017-18 and 2019-20). Only Nicklas Lidstrom (2007-08, 2005-06, 2001-02 and 1999-00) and Karlsson (2015-16, 2014-15, 2013-14 and 2011-12) have led the NHL in points by a defensemen at least three times since 1999-00.
RETURN OF LARS
- Since returning from injury on March 30, Lars Eller has two assists in three games.
- Eller's 0.56 points per game rate this season (14 points in 25 games) is nearly equal to his points rate last season (39 points in 69 games, 0.57 points per game).
- From his debut season in 2009-10 to 2018-19, Eller averaged 0.37 points per game (255 points in 685 games).
TEAM SHOOTING %
- The Capitals rank first in the NHL in team shooting percentage (12.1%).
- The Capitals rank in the top-five in shooting percentage on wrist shots (10.8%, 5th), slap shots (9.6%, 5th) and backhands (23.6%, 1st).
TEAM EFFORTS
- This season, the Capitals are 13-0-4 in one-goal games, the only team in the NHL without a regulation loss in a one-goal game and have the highest win percentage (.750) in the NHL.
- Washington is 14-0-0 in games where they allow two or fewer goals, the only team in the MassMutual East Division without a loss in these conditions.
- This season, the Capitals have allowed one or fewer goals within the first two periods of the game in 18 of their 37 games, eight of their last 10 games and in 11 of their last 13 games.
- The Capitals are expected to allow 2.00 five-on-five goals per game this season, the fifth-lowest rate in the NHL and their lowest rate in the last five seasons. Additionally, Washington is allowing the lowest five-on-five shots against per game (27.8) in their last four seasons.
via Natural Stat Trick
Year Expected 5v5
Goals Against
Season Rank
5v5 Shots Against per Game
Season Rank
2020-21 2.00 5th 27.8 10th
2019-20 2.33 19th 30.5 15th
2018-19 2.52 27th 31.0 18th
2017-18 2.53 29th 30.9 16th
2016-17 2.10 10th 27.4 5th