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SPORTS Wednesday 22 november 2023

Caps are one of the NHL’s hottest teams. Their penalty kill is a big

reason why

By STEPHEN WHYNO tion of strong goaltending, on the same page with
AP Hockey Writer timely scoring and young their reads and where the
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — The players producing. But the next person needs to pres-
vibes around the Washing- biggest factor in this run has sure, where they go, I move
ton Capitals are immacu- been Washington’s penalty here, he moves there and
late right now, with the wins kill that’s a perfect 23 of 23 it’s moving seamlessly,”
finally flowing after a rough over this span. The Capitals Carbery said. “It just looks
start. They’re just not com- haven’t allowed an oppo- like everybody’s on the
ing the way anyone ex- nent to score a power-play same page from a struc-
pected. goal since Oct. 24. ture standpoint.”
Alex Ovechkin has scored “It’s just repetition,” pen- Carbery and goalie Char-
just five times, the team’s alty-killing forward Beck lie Lindgren credit assistant
once-feared power play is Malenstyn said. “The penal- coach Scott Allen’s prep-
last in the NHL and only the ty kill is huge for that: being aration, in particular pre-
lowly San Jose Sharks have able to put yourself in simi- scouting opponents and
fewer goals. Yet the Capi- lar scenarios over and over noticing tendencies. Hav-
tals have won four in a row again and understand- ing an idea what oppos- Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren (79) makes
and eight of their past 10 ing what works and what ing power plays are going a save against the New Jersey Devils during the second period
games. doesn’t work. The more to do has allowed forwards of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, in Newark, N.J.
Associated Press
“We’re going into each you see, the more you can to be aggressive in passing
game expecting to win,” make those adjustments lanes to break up opportu- Not taxing penalty killers com.
top center and leading and read and react.” nities. has helped: The Capitals Keeping the puck out of
goal-scorer Dylan Strome When first-year coach “A power play, it’s the five are the third-least penal- their own net has been
said. “This group is just find- Spencer Carbery watches best players on the ice for ized team in hockey. essential, given the Capi-
ing ways to win, and we’re his PK from the bench, he the opposing team, and I It also doesn’t hurt that tals have scored just 2.47
kind of believing in our- sees each player react- think our guys have been the goaltending has been goals a game. The biggest
selves more and more.” ing the same way every doing a really good job at dependable and at times area of concern offensively
That belief and a surpris- time when the puck moves just disrupting them, mak- outstanding. Lindgren ranks has been the power play,
ing run to second place in around the ice. ing it hard for them, not giv- third in the league in goals which is 3 for 43 this season
the Metropolitan Division “That tells you that they’re ing them much time and saved above expected, a 7% conversion rate and 0
comes from a combina- just so dialed in with being space,” Lindgren said. according to MoneyPuck. for its past 23. q