This is an analysis of the Washington Capitals’ performance from an advanced statistics standpoint for the week of Dec 14-19, 2015. Note: the game for Dec 20 will be included in next week’s statistics, given that it’s the first of a back to back and it’s a short week next week. Statistics were taken from the War on Ice Website for each game.
Capitals vs Pittsburgh Penguins (December 14)
The Capitals won this game 4-1 after scoring the first two goals. The Corsi For and Fenwick For statistics reflected the fact that Pittsburgh had more shots throughout the game. The one and only player who had a Corsi For percentage over 50% was Stan Galiev who had 60%. Among the other forwards, the only two forwards to even exceed 50% were Andre Burakovsky and Brooks Laich, with 43% and 45%, respectively. The only defensemen to exceed 40% Corsi For was Dmitry Orlov who barely exceeded that – at 41%. The remainder of the players were between 30-40% Corsi For. The only players with Fenwick For percentage at or above 50% were Galiev and Nate Schmidt, the latter at exactly 50%. The rest of them ranged from 30-46%, except for Taylor Chorney who had 23%. The stats bear out the Braden Holtby, the game’s first star, had stolen the game for them.
Capitals vs Ottawa Senators (December 16)
This game was a 2-1 win for the Capitals. This game was notable for a great goaltending performance by Braden Holtby and for the fact that Michael Latta scored a goal and had an assist. The Corsi For and Fenwick For percentages for the fourth line of Latta, Brooks Laich, and Andre Burakovsky were over 55%, indicating good possession statistics and was instrumental in their contributions in the goal scoring department. The first line of Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and TJ Oshie also had Corsi For and Fenwick For percentages over 50%, even though none of them scored in this game. The second line of Marcus Johansson, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Justin Williams hovered around 50% in Corsi For and Fenwick For, with Williams and Johansson just at or over 50% and Kuznetsov slightly below. It was not as good day for the third line of Jay Beagle, Jason Chimera, and Tom Wilson. Beagle and Chimera were in the 40% range in Corsi For but above 50% in Fenwick For. Tom Wilson has 33% Corsi For and 42% Fenwick For. This was on a day where the officials gave him the Match penalty and what amounted to a 5 minute major.
For the defense, both John Carlson and Nate Schmidt had less than 50% Corsi For and Fenwick For, with both in the mid 30% range for Corsi For and in the mid 40% range for Fenwick For. The remaining defensemen all exceeded 50% in both Corsi For and Fenwick For. Karl Alzner and Matt Niskanen were in the upper 50% range while Taylor Chorney and Dmitry Orlov both exceeded 60% in Corsi For and Chorney exceeded 60% in Fenwick For.
Capitals vs Tampa Bay Lightning (December 18)
This game was a 5-3 win for the Caps where the Caps came back from an early three goal deficit and featured three power play goals. Despite the fact that T.J. Oshie had scored 2 goals, the first line did not have a strong game from a Corsi For or Fenwick For percentage standpoint, with Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and T.J. Oshie all having percentages under 50%, with Ovi having percentages in the 40% range and his linemates having percentages in the 30% range. In fact, the only forward with a 50% Corsi For percentage or better was Evgeny Kuznetsov. The fourth line of Michael Latta, Brooks Laich, and Andre Burakovsky had an odd game, statistically. They had Corsi For percentages in the 35-45 percent range but had Fenwick For percentages above 55%,
For the defensemen, John Carlson and Nate Schmidt had Corsi For and Fenwick For below 40%. Matt Niskanen and Karl Alzner had Corsi For and Fenwick For above 50%. Orlov has 50% Corsi For and 43% in Fenwick For percentage. Both the Corsi For and Fenwick For were below 35% for Taylor Chorney.
By Diane Doyle
