Thursday Roundup/Hurricanes 7, Capitals 2

[Boxscore - Recap]

Brutal. I didn't actually see the game (mercifully), so I'll let the pros (WaPo, WTimes) catch you up on all the gruesome details, but let's look at some of the numbers together, shall we?

• Number of goals scored by Carolina Wednesday night versus the Caps: 7
• Number of goals scored by Carolina in its other three games: 7
• Number of power play goals scored by Carolina Wednesday night versus the Caps: 3 (in 7 attempts)
• Number of power play goals scored by Carolina in its other three games: 0 (in 15 attempts)
• Number of goals scored by Atlanta this past weekend in two games against the Caps: 15
• Number of goals scored by Atlanta in its other two games: 0
  
• Number of power play goals scored by Atlanta this past weekend in two games against the Caps: 8 (in 23 attempts)
• Number of power play goals scored by Atlanta in its other two games: 0 (in 15 attempts)

Adding it up:

• Total goals scored by Atlanta and Carolina in three games against the Caps so far: 22
• Total goals scored by Atlanta and Carolina in their five games against other NHL teams: 5
• Total number of power play goals scored by Atlanta and Carolina against the Caps: 11 (in 30 attempts)
  
• Total number of power play goals scored by Atlanta and Carolina against other NHL teams: 0 (in 30 attempts)
  

This just in: the Caps defense is even worse than we feared, and as a result the penalties start to pile up and that leads to a flood of goals against. The Caps lead the League in PIMs per game (and all but 10 of those minutes are minors) and are near the bottom of the League in penalty killing - a horrible combination. Since opening night (when somehow Columbus was unable to score on any of its nine power play opportunities), the Caps have successfully killed off just 66% of the penalties they've taken. Craptastic. The offense (what offense other than AO?) and goaltending aren't without blame either, but we'll save them for another day.

Tonight the Isles come a-callin', and I'm sure that Messrs. Satan and Yashin are just licking their chops (they'd probably jog to D.C. if for some reason the team had travel issues). Coach Hanlon will throw Brent Johnson to the wolves, as the Farmington, MI native will get his first start in a Caps sweater (guess who's wishing he'd cleared waivers last week?). Of course the Caps are 2-0-0, allowing only two goals against per game outside of the Southeast Division. How's that for optimism?

In other NHL news:

• Atlanta goalie Mike Dunham left early in Wednesday night's game with a groin strain. He was replaced by Michael Garnett who stopped 29 of 30 shots in relief and was named the game's #2 star.
• The NHL's reigning Idiot of the Month, Sean Avery, is trying to make it two months in a row. I wonder what he's got in store for November.
• The NHLPA has started polling players on the issue of mandatory visors. Jes Gölbez sums up my thoughts on the issue, well, better than I could. Check it out.
  

Daily Awards

• Hart: Steve Sullivan (G, 2A)
• Ross: Eric Staal (G, 3A)
  
• Norris: Bret Hedican (G, 2A, +2)
  
• Vezina: Yann Danis (32 save shutout win - sorry Dwayne Roloson)
  
• Richard: Wayne Primeau, Matt Foy (2G apiece)
  
• Calder: Yann Danis (32 save shutout win)

Update:

• The Bruins have re-signed holdout defenseman Nick Boynton.