Washington Capitals hit totals are ridiculous

As you know, “hits” are a nebulous and subjective stat in the NHL whose totals seemingly rise and fall based on whatever the official scorer is trying to accomplish. Look no further than Cal Clutterbuck’s days with the Minnesota Wild, when he’d lead the league with hit totals that made it appear that every check was its own arcade fighting game-style hit combo. 

In pursuing some stats this week, we came across the hit totals for the 2014-15 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

The Washington Capitals have apparently dished out 459 of them in 11 games, more than hundred more than the No. 2 ranked Montreal Canadiens have in 10 games – 334 hits.

Now, how could the Capitals arrive at such an elephantine number? Why it’s because they’ve been credited with 276 hits in their six home games.

That’s 46 hits per game.

The NHL leader in home hits in the regular season was Arizona, with an average of 35.59. In the playoffs, it’s the Anaheim Ducks in their brief four playoff games with 40 per game.

Keep in mind the Capitals have yet to play an overtime game at home.

Here’s a brief look at where the Capitals currently stand with regard to past hits leaders at home and overall in the Stanley Cup Playoffs:

Obviously we can expect the Capitals to regress to the mean. And obviously, the two series they’ve played in have been among the more physical.

But an average 46 hits per home game is … well, plentiful. 

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