The Capitals are averaging the fourth-most goals per game, and their play at the other end of the ice is solid to boot.
The Capitals are averaging the fourth-most goals per game, and their play at the other end of the ice is solid to boot.
Critics didn't necessarily think the new-look Washington Capitals would do much different than last year, despite adding seven new skaters and retooling on the fly. But through six games, they've proven those critics wrong — and then some.
These Capitals aren't just different; they're good.
Washington has won five straight games since dropping their home opener. And while each game hasn't been the prettiest, D.C. has made sure to end up on the right side of the scoreboard at the end.
"This is the start you want," Pierre-Luc Dubois said after the team's 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. "We're probably not going to go 81-1, but you want to ride the waves as long as you can. And it's not perfect, but to find a way to win the games, that's what the top teams do and we want to get there."
What's made this year's Capitals team so good, though? Let's dive in.
First, the offense has made the biggest impact. Washington has managed over three goals in each game so far, and even when there are mistakes on defense, it is able to make up for it with more scoring. The Capitals' 4.33 goals per game ranks fourth-best in the NHL right now.
That was far from the case last season, as D.C. averaged under three goals per game and struggled so greatly on offense that one or two goals against felt like a dagger and something the group couldn't overcome.
This year, new additions up front like Pierre-Luc Dubois, Andrew Mangiapane and Taylor Raddysh have helped add some scoring, but also, tenured players like Connor McMichael and Dylan Strome are also enjoying red-hot starts to their year to bolster the offense.
All four lines are clicking and on the same page, everyone is contributing and of course, the defense is also chipping in, with Jakob Chychrun and John Carlson leading the charge and Rasmus Sandin and Trevor van Riemsdyk also stepping up to provide some offense from the blue line.
"You don't want to be too high, but when it's going well, you have to enjoy it, you have to ride it as long as you can. It could be luck... or it could be you're doing a lot of good things," Dubois said.
On the other side of the puck, head coach Spencer Carbery's blue line has also stepped up to make quite the statement. From Chychrun-Carlson up front to Dylan McIlrath stepping up for an injured Matt Roy, the Capitals' defense has been solid — albeit a few hiccups from time to time — in shutting things down.
"I can't talk enough about our D core. they've been huge for us," Nic Dowd said. "I don't think people realize how good defensively the six playing every night are."
Washington currently allows just 26.8 shots per game, the fifth-least in the league, and the penalty kill (81 percent) has also been strong while producing a handful of shorthanded chances and goals.
Then, in goal, Charlie Lindgren and Logan Thompson have been alternating and coming up with some key saves at clutch times for D.C. as both make up a solid 1A/1B tandem.
Ultimately, though, what's been working so well is the chemistry between the team's new additions and returning players. Everyone is on the same page and playing with pace, all while embracing Carbery's systems.
"This is the tightest group I think I've ever been a part of," Thompson said.
"I think it's just the veteran players and the guys that have been there, they've made it really easy," Raddysh added. "From the first day of camp, it was that vibe and everyone's been clicking quite well."
As Washington looks to remain hot to open the year, the Capitals know that now, it'll come down to consistency and being able to sustain their impressive play. And with every game a vital one, that's the biggest objective.
"I think to be able to sustain (this), that's the hard part, but we're all working towards that," Dubois said, adding, "It's a long season, there's a lot to do, but these points are just as valuable as the points in March," Dubois pointed out.
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