Breaking Down: Avs/Caps, Game #5

The Avs started the game with 4 goals in a 6 minute stretch, it was stunning. The Caps went clownshoes while the Avs were busy dealing with score effects but the net effect was a 6-3 win to keep the Avs undefeated on the season.

Projectile Lineup

Ian Cole made his season debut around 6 or 8 weeks ahead of schedule. JT Compher was put on IR so he could be activated. Philipp Grubauer returned to the net after taking Saturday night off.

Landy – Mack – Mikko
Burky – Kadri – Donskoi
Nieto – Jost – Willie
Calvert – PEB – Nichushkin

Sam – EJ
Z – Makar
Graves – Cole

Grubi
Frank

Scratch: Kamenev, Barberio, Connauton
Injured: Compher

Team Stats

Score effects began 6 minutes into the game so there’s not a lot of meaningful statistics other than what was left on the scoreboard. Game pace was 117 attempts per hour, right where it was against Boston, so even with the score effects they were playing quick against a good team again. That’s what we like to see. PP was 1-4 to stay right at 25% for the year. PK killed off both chances although there was a Caps goal just seconds after one expired.

TOI

The lines were all mashed up but for the record the top line was the top line and played the most by far. EJ played 26 minutes, which is usually too much but it worked. The only real outliers were Ryan Graves 3rd in TOI for defensemen, but he did play a solid game for the most part, and the 4th line didn’t play much (~9 minutes) which is a little odd given the situation.

Individual

Before we run down the scorers a couple guys deserve mention for non-scoring play. Grubi had an ok night statistically but he was big when it mattered. Coach Bednar remarked after the game that a couple goals were on failed poke-checks, something we’ve seen a lot, but that he trusts his instincts. Sam Girard got pissed at the Caps running around, specifically Tom Wilson and later Ovi, and took it out on them by making them look like fools while he took laps around the offensive zone. I love it. It’s subtle but he was definitely taunting them and letting them know there’s nothing they could do about it.

Nazem Kadri got his first point of the year with a goal against Arizona and liked it so much he went off for a goal and two assists vs Washington. For those that were worried his scoring pace might lag, fear not.

Mikko also had a goal and two assists and now has 9 points in 5 games.

Mack had his 2nd goal of the year (still hasn’t put one past a goalie yet) and an assist for 8 points on the season.

Captain Gabe had 2 assists

Cale Makar had an assist, his 6th in 5 regular season games, and continued the streak to start his career.

EJ and Big Z both got their first goals of the season, both beauties.

Burky, Donskoi and Jost all added assists. Jost now with 2 points in 3 games since being moved back to center.

Getting a large early lead isn’t an easy way to win or play a game. The refs are going to try and even things out and the opponent has nothing to lose by either going yolo on shooting or playing like idiots. This wasn’t an easy win and it was good to see how they lost control then gained it back several times. Might come in handy.

Burgundy Narrative Metric

– “Best guys being your best guys” gets a (+) sure, why not
– Quality vs Quantity gets a (+) in the 6 minutes that really counted yes on both
– Power Play Watchability gets a (+) ok, but a weak one
– The Dreaded Turtle gets a (-) it was inevitable
– Starting Goalie Battle% gets a (+) very steady while the team was in flames ahead of him
– Referee Oppression Index gets a (+) Got the easiest offside call ever right so nice job.

Total: +4¾

Next up

Wednesday night NBC game vs the Pens, happy watching!

Thanks as always to the NHL and Natural Stat Trick for numbers and visuals