Lock Down

Overcoming deficits has been a tough task for opposing teams in the last three and a half years under head coach Barry Trotz's guidance. In order for teams to get two points off the Capitals in any given game, they'll need to jump ahead early on, because if the Capitals are able to get a lead, they rarely look back and let their opponent back into the game.

During Trotz's tenure, the Capitals are 99-6-8 when leading after the first period, which is the highest winning percentage in the NHL (.876 percent). When leading after two periods, the Capitals are 131-3-7, which is good for the League's second highest winning percentage at .929.

Although the Capitals have been outstanding at protecting leads over the last three plus years, the players say it's hard to place their finger on exactly why they've been so good at finishing off wins once they get the lead. For Capitals center Jay Beagle, the biggest factor is the team's goaltenders.
"I think it starts with Braden [Holtby] and [Philipp Grubauer]," said Beagle. "When both of your goaltenders are exceptionally good it obviously helps you to get a lead and then hold that lead. And then for our systems, I think our whole coaching staff, the way they have us prepared and the way they want us to play when we have a lead has been key since this coaching staff has been here."

If you ask Grubauer what has led to the team's success at protecting leads, he's quick to point to his teammates' execution on the ice, and how strong they are at taking care of little things that put the team in position to close out wins.
"It's a number of reasons, it not just one thing," said Grubauer. "It's the guys in the locker room. I think everybody is experienced enough they all know what to do to close out games. We have so many guys who have played so many games in this league and they know what to do and they know how to win games. I think paying attention to the details is also a huge part. The coaching staff does a great job of coming in between periods and telling us what we've got to change and what adjustments we have to make. It's small things like blocking shots or stick positioning on penalty kills and things like that. Those are little things, but they make a difference."
Another aspect that factors into Washington's success closing out wins is how they don't take their foot off the gas once they have the lead. Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen believes the team's tenacity and willingness to play as a team goes a long way in determining their success.

"I think since Barry has been here we've had a commitment to good team defense," said Niskanen. "That involves a lot of areas, and when you're playing with a lead with a period to go everybody has to care about the right things. Guys have to take pride in being positioned accordingly and keeping the puck out of your own net. We play really aggressively in certain areas in an effort to bring down our shot totals against us."
The Capitals have been a tough out for the last four seasons, and if opponents don't jump out to an early lead, their chances of earning two points quickly start to dwindle.