Goaltending is the Capitals’ biggest playoff weakness, but Peter Laviolette may provide some hope

As of Monday, Vanecek had stopped 784 of 858 shots at even strength (.914), giving him the 30th best save rate among 42 netminders playing at least 1,000 minutes at even strength. Based on the shot quality and volume he’s faced, we’d expect him to have a save rate of .926. His save rate on high-danger shots, those originating in the slot or the crease, is one of the worst of this group at 79 percent. Only Philadelphia’s Carter Hart and Columbus’s Joonas Korpisalo are worse at stopping these high-danger shots this season. Vanecek did manage to save a higher rate of high-danger shots when his team was put on the penalty kill (83 percent), but with the game played largely at even strength, his special teams play is only a minimal comfort.