Washington is tied for most points in division
They have not played perfect hockey by any measure. The Capitals have been outshot, outhit or just generally outplayed at some point in all five of their games so far this season.
Yet here they stand with a 4-1 record and tied with Toronto and Dallas for the most points in the NHL (8) entering play Monday night. But neither of those teams made the Stanley Cup playoffs last season and Washington isn’t foolish enough to believe this hot start will sustain itself unless it plays better hockey.
The Caps, who play at home Tuesday night against the Boston Bruins (2-1, four points), are still trying to shake some early injuries. Defensemen Mike Green (shoulder) and Tom Poti (lower-body injury) didn’t play against Nashville on Saturday and rookie John Carlson is smarting after he took a shot off the leg. Forward Matt Bradley (lower-body injury) also remains out.
One area where Washington has been consistently excellent is the penalty kill. That unit finished 25th in the NHL in 2009-10. So far this season the Caps have added an element of aggression to last year’s system and are a perfect 21-for-21.
“We knew that was an area we needed some improvement. It can win and lose you games,” defenseman Jeff Schultz said. “Any time there’s a loose puck or a bobbled puck or a guy has his back to us we’re going to go right at them and force the other team to make a play.”
