After allowing nearly 800 more goals than they scored over their first eight seasons, the Capitals on Friday scored the long-awaited equalizer, as John Carlson gave the Caps a 2-1 lead against Carolina in the first period.
So they now have scored 11,655 goals, and given up the same number. They haven’t had a positive goal differential since the first period of their first game in 1974.
The Washington Post’s Scott Allen and I published an article about this back in January, before the Capitals started slumping. With the Caps’ recent winning ways, including Thursday’s 7-2 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Caps clawed their way back in recent weeks.