Nick Wass/Associated Press

The Capitals are under a week away from the end of the regular season. Thirteen teams have clinched a playoff spot. That means thirteen fanbases are currently asking the question: Who do we want to play in the first round?

The Capitals are no different. Sure, there will be fans and commentators that may come out and say, “It doesn’t matter who they play”,  they’ll do so for various reasons. One reason being they think they can beat anyone at anytime or they’re using the “They have to beat the best at some point anyways”, argument.

Some tend to think that even if some fans do think like this and don’t care who Washington plays in the first round of the playoffs, they’re still watching the standings and have a preference who the team plays. NoVa Caps is here to try to make it easier for those fans.

The following stats will point out the Capitals’ record and key stats versus six possible first round opponents. After that, others can decide who they want Washington to face once the playoffs start.

Columbus Blue Jackets:

• Record: 3-1-1
• 2.4 Goals For Per Game
• 1.6 Goals Against Per Game
• 29 Shots Per Game
• 29.2 Shots Against Per Game
• 1/12 PP (8.3%) 13/15 PK (86.7%) 49.7 Faceoff%
• 51.43 Corsi rating
• 8.3 5v5 Shooting%
• .955 5v5 Save%.

Pittsburgh Penguins:

• Record: 2-0-2
• 5.25 Goals For Per Game
• 3.25 Goals Against Per Game
• 35.4 Shots Per Game
• 31.2 Shots Against Per Game
• 5/18 PP (27.8%) 8/12 PK (66.7%) 57% Faceoff%
• 48.86 Corsi rating
• 13.3 5v5 Shooting%
• .939 5v5 Save%.

Toronto Maple Leafs:

• Record: 1-1-0
• 4 Goals For Per Game
• 4.5 Goals Against Per Game
• 32 Shots Per Game
• 31 Shots Against Per Game
• 1/6 PP (16.7%), 8/11 PK (72.7%), 58.8 Faceoff%
• 54.29 Corsi rating
• 13.0 5v5 Shooting%
• .864 5v5 Save%.

Boston Bruins:

• Record: 2-0-0
• 4.5 Goals For Per Game
• 3 Goals Against Per Game
• 21 Shots Per Game
• 33.5 Shots Against Per Game
• 1/5 PP (20%), 3/6 PK (50%), 49.5 Faceoff%
• 43.09 Corsi rating
• 18.9 5v5 Shooting%
• .943 5v5 Save%.

Ottawa Senators:

• Record: 2-1-0
• 1 Goal For Per Game
• 1.33 Goals Against Per Game
• 26.3 Shots Per Game
• 29.3 Shots Against Per Game
• 0/10 PP (0%), 10/11 PK (90.9%), 45.6 Faceoff%
• 48.25 Corsi rating
• 5.0 5v5 Shooting%
• .969 5v5 Save%.

Tampa Bay Lightning:

• Record: 2-0-1
• 3.33 Goals For Per Game
• 1.33 Goals Against Per Game
• 32.3 Shots Per Game
• 28.3 Shots Against Per Game
• 2/10 PP (20%), 5/7 PK (71.4%), 52.1 Faceoff%
• 51.69 Corsi rating
• 9.0 5v5 Shooting%
• .986 5v5 Save%.

There are the Caps’ six possible first round opponents. There are two teams the Capitals can’t face in the first round: the first Wild Card team and the winner of the Atlantic Division. So, for future reference NoVa Caps will analyze the stats for those teams too.

New York Rangers:

• Record: 1-2-0
• 2.33 Goals For Per Game
• 2.33 Goals Against Per Game
• 32.6 Shots Per Game
• 28.6 Shots Against Per Game
• 2/6 PP (33.3%), 8/9 PK (88.9%), 52.1 Faceoff%
• 53.93 Corsi rating
• 6.2 5v5 Shooting%
• .931 5v5 Save%.

Montreal Canadiens:

• Record: 2-1-0
• 2.66 Goals For Per Game
• 1.66 Goals Against Per Game
• 30 Shots Per Game
• 23.3 Shots Against Per Game
• 3/10 PP (30%), 8/9 PK (88.9%), 49.4 Faceoff%
• 54.79 Corsi rating
• 6.8 5v5 Shooting%
• .929 5v5 Save%.

There is one more stat that can be analyzed. It’s something that some fans like to keep an eye on during the season and come playoff time, really like to look at this before any series. High Danger shots against and the goalies high danger save%.

Is this an important stat? Perhaps not, but it can tell if a defense is helping a goalie or if a goalie helps a defense. I think it can also point out which goalies and teams you might want to avoid in a playoff series.

Below are High Danger Shots Against Per Game WITH THE STARTER IN NET and the starter’s high danger save percentage.

Blue Jackets:

• 5.36 HDSAPG
• Bobrovsky HDSV%: .868%.

Penguins:

• 5.48 HDSAPG
• Murray HDSV%: .829%

Maple Leafs:

• 5.22 HDSAPG
• Andersen HDSV%: .829%

Bruins:

• 3.80 HDSAPG
• Rask HDSV%: .779%

Senators:

• 5 HDSAPG
• Anderson HDSV%: .816%

Lightning:

• 4.19 HDSAPG
• Vasilevskiy HDSV%: . 824%

Rangers:

• 5.41 HDSAPG
• Lundqvist HDSV%: .824%

Canadiens:

• 4.56 HDSAPG
• -Price HDSV%: .868%

And just for the heck of it so fans will know, here are Washington’s and Holtby’s numbers.

Capitals:

• 5.08 HDSAPG
• Holtby HDSV%: .820%

There it is. Who do fans want to play in the first round? Who do they want to play in the playoffs? Who do they want to avoid? The wait is almost over. The best playoff competition in sports starts in just over a week.

By C.J. Witt