Japers' Rink · Oct 17, 2019
Shot Down: Indicators of a Struggling Power Play
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY SportsFor the better part of the period in Washington Capitals history that will be known to fans and hockey historians alike as “The Alex Ovechkin Era,” the club’s power play has been the most feared extra-man unit in the game, converting at better than 20 percent efficiency ten times since 2008-09 (clearing 25 percent in four of those full seasons) and clicking at a League-best 22.6 percent over that span.
Eight games into the 2019-20 campaign, the Caps have scored on 21.9 percent of their power plays (7-for-32), which is actually up a tick from last year’s 20.8 percent (a franchise low since season Dale Hunter coached the squad for 60 games).