When the Washington Capitals acquired Brett Connolly in free agency during the summer of 2016, they did so with the hopes of bolstering their bottom-six forward production.
Connolly began his career with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2011-12 season. His fourth season turned out to be his best when he had 15 points (12 goals, 3 assists) for the Lightning.
Then he got traded to the Boston Bruins at the deadline for second round picks the next two years. Connolly though was rarely used, only appearing in five games for the Bruins registering two assists.
He did get a full season in Boston the next year, 2015-16, where he posted a career-high (at the time) 25 points (9 goals, 16 assists).
The Capitals meanwhile rode high to a President’s Trophy but ended up falling short of the ultimate goal.
They fell to a Pittsburgh Peugins team in the second round, where their bottom-six forward corps did them in. The particular X-Factor was the HBK line (Carl Hagelin-Nick Bonino-Phil Kessel).
The Capitals knew if they wanted to beat their rivals in the playoffs, they needed a balance from all four forward lines, not just the Alex Ovechkins and Nicklas Backstroms.
In Wednesday’s win in Toronto, Connolly scored in the second period by taking a centering pass from Tom Wilson and going backhand past the blockers of Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Anderson.
Make that three straight seasons with Washington that Brett Connolly has netted 15 goals. #ALLCAPS #CapsLeafs pic.twitter.com/6nW0NM0Vmn
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 22, 2019
“I just came off the bench and Willy (Tom Wilson) made a good hit and forecheck, kind of made the guy turn it over… Just worked out,” Connolly told the media after the game.
“I got the puck in a good area and I made the first move. It was good to see him (Fredrik Anderson) go down like that. It was good to see that one go in for sure.”
The goal marked Connolly’s 15th goal of the season, a feat he has now achieved in all three seasons in Washington.
“It’s been a great three years here. I really feel my game has turned a corner since I came here,” added Connolly.
“With everything that happened last year with winning, just coming into this year with just a whole new outlook on the game, a new mindset for how I need to play and more confidence, it makes a big difference.”
“It’s been another great year. Such a good group of guys that make it a lot easier on me. I just get to go and play, have fun and do my best and it’s been a good three years for sure.”
Connolly has been consistent in his three years in Washington thus far. Consistency will be key for the Capitals in the home stretch of the seaosn as they gear up for another run at a Stanley Cup.
15 goals are a career high for Connolly and with 21 games left in the season, Connolly will surely have a new career-high soon.
Connolly’s 32 points this season (17 assists) is already a career-high.
According to the game notes, numbers of course updated after the outcome of Wednesday’s game, the Capitals are 10-1-3 when Connolly has scored a goal this season.
The Capitals went on to defeat the Maple Leafs by a final of 3-2 with Alex Ovechkin and Wilson providing the other two goals.
Their last two wins, coupled with the New York Islanders last two losses in back-to-back nights to the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers (OT), now put the Caps two points behind first place in the Metropolitan Division.