Team Record Watch

The Washington Capitals have an excellent offensive team, and even though it has only been three playoff games, several Capitals are already approaching historical marks.

John Carlson, the super-rookie Captain America defenseman, already has 2 assists in these playoffs.  The Capitals record for assists by a rookie in the playoffs is 3, a four-way record held by wingers Yvon Corriveau (1986), Andrew Brunette (1996), Dmitri Khristich (1991), and Richard Zednik (1998).

 #74 John Carlson

I think Carlson will break the record this Spring.  What complicates matters is that he will officially be a rookie again next season, which brings us to our next hero.



Semyon Varlamov had a magical playoffs last year and set the Capitals rookie records for games (13), wins (7), and shutouts (2).

 #40 Semyon Varlamov

Those 7 wins and 2 shutouts are also second-best ever in Caps history behind some guy named Olaf Kolzig in 1998.  Well, Varly is a rookie again this season, and his 2 wins are already tied for the second-best win total for a rookie goalie, after, well, himself.  He's tied with Bob Mason (1987), who's the only other rookie goalie with a playoff shutout, and Jim Carey (1995). 

Varlamov is also quickly moving up the Capitals all-time ladder of playoff victories and shutouts.  The top-4 in all-time wins in team history are:  Olaf Kolzig (20), Don Beaupre (18), Pete Peeters (15) and Semyon Varlamov (9).  The only 4 goalies with playoff shutouts in team history are:  Kolzig (6), Varlamov (2), Beaupre (2), and Mason (1). 

Not to be outdone, Alexander Ovechkin just broke into the top-10 in team history for career playoff goals, he currently sits tied for 6th with 17.

#8 Alex Ovechkin

The leaders in all-time playoff goals are Peter Bondra (30), Dale Hunter (25), Dino Ciccarelli (21), Mike Ridley (19) and Michal Pivonka (19).  It is not inconceivable that Ovechkin could break that record this Spring, but to do that he'd have to break John Druce's single-season record.  In 1990, Druce set two team records with 14 goals and 17 points in 15 games.  The points record was tied by Adam Oates and Joe Juneau in 1998 before Ovechkin broke it last season with 21 points in 14 games.  Ovechkin is the only other Capital to breach double digits in goals, with 11 last season. 

John Druce was aided in his quest with a team-record 8 powerplay goals.  Needless to say, that record is safe for now.