[07-Feb-2016] Caps win vs. Devils, Flyers! 80 points (38-9-4)

The Capitals entered this weekend #1 in the League, two points ahead of the #2 Chicago Blackhawks, with six games in hand. At the end of the weekend, they are still #1 in the League, five games in hand, and a four-point lead over Chicago.

<-- This is what the League standings look like after today's games.

As of today, the Caps are up 2 games to 1 over the Philadelphia Flyers, with one game left to play (on 3/30). As for the New Jersey Devils, the Caps are up 2 games to 0 in the series, having won both games played, with two game left to be played (on 2/20 and 3/25). The Flyers sit at #20 in the League, and the Devils at #13.

After the Break... #HoltBEASTWatch and #OviWatch!

GP=Games Played
W=Wins
L=Losses
OTL=Overtime Losses
Points=(2*W)+OTL
GR=Games Remaining
Max Points=Number of points achievable if the team wins all remaining games.

#HoltBEASTWatch

Braden Holtby got both starts in net this weekend, and won both games, bringing his win total to 33 Weagles. With a total of 51 games played (of 82), Holtby and the Caps have 31 more games left to play. He won't start in all of them, but we can reasonably expect him to start in most. The record we are watching was set by Marty Brodeur in 2007-08, the year he won 48 games. Holtby needs 15 more wins to tie, 16 to break Brodeur's record.

“I've definitely followed (Holtby). Any time that a goalie has a special season like that, it's pretty impressive. I like him. I sat down at the draft with (Caps coach Barry Trotz) and we had a lot of conversations about the way he (Holtby) played and the workload. He asked what I thought about it. For me, he reminds me of me a lot. Not the way he plays or whatever, but the way he puts himself out there."

~Martin Brodeur on Braden Holtby (06-Feb-2016)

When Marty Brodeur says Holtby's "pretty impressive," he's pretty impressive. 

We'll be watching Holtby for a long time. Brodeur owns a good number of the records I'd love to see Holtby topple. After this one, it's the youngest goaltender to 300 wins. Brodeur set that record at 29 years, 7 months. Holtby is now 26 years, 4 months (and a bit) old (his birth date is September 16, 1989), and he has won 134 career games (a 134-56-21 record). He has three years and three months to win another 166 games. I believe that record is within reach, and it will be fun to watch it happen!

#OviWatch

Alex Ovechkin is the other guy I'm keeping a close eye on this season. With his goal this afternoon against the Philadelphia Flyers, he becomes only the third player in the entire history of the NHL to score 30 goals in each of his first eleven seasons. Ovi joins former Capital Mike Gartner, who did so in his first 15 seasons, and Wayne Gretzky, who did so in his first 13 seasons. This is even more impressive when you notice that one of Ovi's first eleven seasons - 2012-13 - was lockout-shortened to a mere 48 games! Ovi is, however, the man. I'm projecting his goal totals for this season will have him at or near #33 on the list of all-time goal scorers:

33 - Brian Trottier - 524 G, 1279 GP 

34 - Pat Verbeek - 522 G, 1424 GP 

35 - Dale Hawerchuk - 518 G, 1188 GP

36 - Pierre Turgeon - 515 G, 1294 GP

37 - Jeremy Roenick - 513 G, 1363 GP

38 - Gilbert Perreault - 512 G, 1191 GP

39 - Jean Béliveau - 507 G, 1125 GP

40 - Alex Ovechkin - 505 G, 809 GP

41 - Peter Bondra - 503 G, 1081 GP

42 - Joe Mullen - 502 G, 1062 GP

43 - Lanny McDonald - 500 G, 1111 GP

44 - Glenn Anderson - 498 G, 1129 GP 

Ovi surpassed Peter Bondra for the most career goals as a Washington Capital back in January; next up is the late, great Jean Béliveau (1931-2014), who scored his 507 goals in 1,125 games, all for the Montreal Canadiens. 

In 18 full seasons with that team, Béliveau played on ten Stanley Cup winning teams, in 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, and 1971. He retired to at the end of the 1971 season. His number, #4, was retired by Les Habitants on October 9, 1971, at the start of the 1971-72 season. In 2001, he was honored with his portrait on a Canadian postage stamp.

The Capitals next play Tuesday night when they face the Nashville Predators in Nashville.