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Washington Capitals: Top 3 heroes against Chicago Blackhawks

ByMichael Marzzacco|
CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 20: Washington Capitals center Lars Eller (20) warms up prior to a game between the Washington Capitals and the Chicago Blackhawks on January 20, 2019, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 20: Washington Capitals center Lars Eller (20) warms up prior to a game between the Washington Capitals and the Chicago Blackhawks on January 20, 2019, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

There were many stars in the Washington Capitals 6-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Washington Capitals played their most complete 60-minute game of the preseason. I know what you’re thinking, “yeah sure, none of these games count though.”

While true, it’s important to note that after a couple rounds of roster cuts you saw a varsity squad lineup for the most part on the Capitals side.

On the Blackhawks side, it was no different. Their stars Jonathan Towes and Patrick Kane while starting netminder Corey Crawford had a frustrating night.

Here are who I think were the top 3 players who made the biggest impact in Washington’s 6-0 win.

Lars Eller

RALEIGH, NC – APRIL 18: Lars Eller #20 of the Washington Capitals plays a puck in the offensive zone in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – APRIL 18: Lars Eller #20 of the Washington Capitals plays a puck in the offensive zone in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)

Lars Eller recorded three shots on goal and two of them went in the net. In his first preseason game, Eller picked up where he left off by continuing to be a menace down low.

It’s exactly how he scored both goals. His first one came when he outmuscled Erik Gustafsson in front of the net to deflect a shot from John Carlson.

His next one was almost similar to the biggest goal of his life. On a shot from T.J. Oshie that Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford thought he had a stop but the loose puck sat right there for Eller to tap it in.

John Carlson

CHICAGO, IL – JANUARY 20: Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) warms up prior to a game between the Washington Capitals and the Chicago Blackhawks on January 20, 2019, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – JANUARY 20: Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) warms up prior to a game between the Washington Capitals and the Chicago Blackhawks on January 20, 2019, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

John Carlson had another stellar offensive game recording two points with a goal and an assist and he was very close to getting two goals with Lars Eller‘s deflection on the first goal. Overall he had three shots and played a total of 19:29 including some action on the power play and penalty kill.

Carlson was paired next to Jonas Siegenthaler on the top line and duo was solid as a shutdown pair to protect both Braden Holtby and Pheonix Copley, each facing a combined 22 shots including just five in the second half when Holtby was in the game.

Pheonix Copley

NEWARK, NJ – MARCH 19: Washington Capitals goaltender Pheonix Copley (1) during the first period of the National Hockey League Game between the New Jersey Devils and the Washington Capitals on March 19, 2019 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ – MARCH 19: Washington Capitals goaltender Pheonix Copley (1) during the first period of the National Hockey League Game between the New Jersey Devils and the Washington Capitals on March 19, 2019 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Pheonix Copley needed a game like Wednesday night for the competition of backup goalie. With two young kids in Vitek Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov chomping at the bit for a taste of NHL action, Copley wants to prove he truly belongs here as a backup after the season he had last year.

Copley had to face 17 of those 22 shots Chicago put up. He stopped each and every one of them including four shots on the power play. When Holtby was in, there wasn’t a single shot on the power play with a defense that stood tall the whole way through.

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