Ten shots.
TEN.
If it were for one period, that would be great. Over two periods, that would be pretty anemic, but workable. However, that’s all the Capitals managed to muster against the Carolina Hurricanes last night. I don’t know what’s worse — that they only got 10 shots, or that they were actually leading the game 3-2 in the third period and ended up losing 4-3.
The rest of the gory details:
- The Caps, after starting off pretty well on the road, have now lost 19 of their last 21 road games. As a result, they have the second-fewest road wins in the league, just ahead of the baffling Calgary Flames, who are world-beaters at home and stink on the road. The Caps have lost 11 of their last 13 games overall; sure, there are a bunch of overtime/shootout losses in there, but I don’t really count those. 😛
- The Caps only managed one shot in the first period, tying a franchise low. However, they scored on that one shot, which is good. (More on the shooting percentage later.)
- The 10 shots allowed was a franchise best for the Hurricanes.
- Believe it or not, the 10 shots taken was not a franchise worst. That would be seven, which they managed in a game that took place, incidentally, four days after I was born, in 1978. And no, I don’t think I’m a bad luck charm. 😛
On the bright side, Alex Ovechkin scored two goals and the Caps overall had a 30% shooting percentage (three goals on 10 shots), which actually goes to show how dangerous and scary an offensive team they can be sometimes, and often were earlier in the year.
I’ll actually be heading to one of their last home games this year, and it’ll be my first Ovechkin sighting in person at a game. (I managed to see him when he threw out the first pitch at a Nats game last year. He and a bunch of other Caps took a stroll through the section I was sitting in.) Yeah, I know — shame on me for not getting out to see him sooner, despite the fact that I’ve seen other teams live in other cities this season and that I normally go to see the Caps whenever I can. But I’m psyched — probably going to see Ovechkin vs. Crosby next week when the hated Pens come to town. If I take pics, they’ll be up on the site.