The Washington Capitals have taken 5.8 penalties per game over their past five games, second only to the St. Louis Blues (6.0) in that span. In addition, no teams has averaged more time shorthanded (8.14 minutes) per game since mid-December than the Caps, per War on Ice.
As defenseman Matt Niskanen points out, the Caps are well aware of what needs to be done to curb their penalty issues.
Follow our Washington Capitals team page for the latest Capitals news!
“We’ve talked about it every game,” Niskanen said, via the Washington Post. “We need discipline. Hopefully we all just buckle down there, or at least limit them. You’re going to have penalties. There are going to be calls you don’t agree with. Hopefully it doesn’t take a game where we don’t give up three power play goals to wake us up.”
Elaborating on that, Niskanen indicated that he hopes the team can recognize the problem before it starts costing them valuable games.
“We’ve just got to take it upon ourselves and hopefully it doesn’t take a game where we really get burned on it to realize it,” Niskanen said. “We’re probably recognizing that we’re taking too many, but we’re winning games regardless. Unintentionally we’re sweeping it under the rug.”
Back to the Washington Capitals Newsfeed