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Capitals: Top 3 key players to watch against Lightning

By Michael Marzzacco |
TAMPA, FL - MAY 23: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals talks with Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning after Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on May 23, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. The Washington Capitals defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-0. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - MAY 23: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals talks with Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning after Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on May 23, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. The Washington Capitals defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-0. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
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TAMPA, FL – MARCH 30: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates his 50th goal of the season with teammate Nicklas Backstrom and against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on March 30, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – MARCH 30: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates his 50th goal of the season with teammate Nicklas Backstrom and against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on March 30, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning go head to head in a Saturday night showdown.

The last time these two teams met the Washington Capitals showed heart and resiliency, rallying from a 3-1 deficit for a 4-3 overtime win thanks to Dmitry Orlov.

Now they meet again after the Capitals came out on top against the Bruins thanks to two goals from T.J. Oshie and the game-winner from Norris Trophy frontrunner John Carlson.

Now the Capitals take on a Tampa Bay Lightning team that has struggled fresh of the heels of a President’s Trophy. Right now the teams are opposite of each other. The Capitals carry the league’s best record at 23-5-5, good for 51 points. Their win over the Bruins separated themselves by five points entering Saturday’s tilt.

The Lightning went from sixth in the Atlantic Division to fourth place with a 3-2 win over the Bruins Thursday night. Steven Stamkos scored twice including once on their power play attack while Brayden Point netted a PPG of his own.

They got off to a slow start but picked things up before having a near .500 stretch in their last 10 games going 5-4-1.

After an awesome Wednesday night game against the Bruins we’re treated to another marquee matchup. Here are your top 3 players to watch.

DETROIT, MI – NOVEMBER 30: T.J. Oshie #77 of the Washington Capitals looks up at the scoreboard from the bench during an NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on November 30, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. The Capitals defeated the Wings 5-2. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – NOVEMBER 30: T.J. Oshie #77 of the Washington Capitals looks up at the scoreboard from the bench during an NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on November 30, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. The Capitals defeated the Wings 5-2. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images) /

T.J. Oshie

T.J. Oshie had a hell of a game and a heck of a goal in the Capitals 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins. If it’s not top 10 on NHL Network I think Caps fans might riot. Just kidding. But it’s that good of a goal.

Oshie’s first goal was a good cut to the net to slam it home. He initially missed off the top crossbar but it came in as he followed his shot to rebound it home.

His next tally came with a silky split between Connor Clifton and Charlie McAvoy finishing with a backhander past Jarslav Halak which was pretty sweet considering how much highway robbery he committed against the Caps in the playoffs an eon ago. A lot has changed in those 10 years.

Oshie told NHL.com after the game:

“I haven’t seen it yet, so I don’t know. It felt pretty lucky for the puck to squeak through there. You just try to put it upstairs with a couple sticks on you, so happy it went in.”

Oshie’s two goals ended a four-game goal-less drought. He now has 13 on the season. He’s be pleasantly healthy and producing on the second line so watch out for him once again Saturday.

WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 11: John Carlson #74 of the Washington Capitals shoots the puck against the Boston Bruins during the second period at Capital One Arena on December 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 11: John Carlson #74 of the Washington Capitals shoots the puck against the Boston Bruins during the second period at Capital One Arena on December 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

John Carlson

Go Johnny go! John Carlson netted the game-winning goal the other night against the Bruins. The goal came as Nicklas Backstrom circled around the back of the net. Carlson waited for the play and then blasted home a one-timer past Jaroslav Halak (those last three words still feel good typing).

For Carlson, it was his 12th goal of the season and 45th point. He leads Carolina Hurricanes blueliner Dougie Hamilton by 15 points for the league lead in points. While Carlson certainly deserves to be in the Norris Trophy conversation, perhaps he should also be in the Hart Trophy discussion as well.

Carlson explained after the game to The Washington Post’s Samantha Pell (subscription required):

“I was just trying to shoot it in the net. I mean I had enough chances before. I was pretty frustrated and it was nice to at least find the back of the net.”

Carlson has also shown the clutch genes with his fifth game-winning goal through 33 games, just one shy of tying Kevin Hatcher for the most by a defenseman.

Carlson also had an assist on Wednesday night and per the game notes he became the first defenseman since Al MacInnis in the 1990-91 season to score 45 points through a team’s first 33 games.

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 29: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates with the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Capital One Arena on November 29, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 29: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates with the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Capital One Arena on November 29, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Alex Ovechkin

Alex Ovechkin didn’t score the other night against the Bruins but did lay out six hits in what was a very close and physical game the whole way through. He did score in Monday night’s loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets where he ended a three-game goal-less drought. Three games doesn’t seem that long but when it comes to the captain, it seems like forever.

Ovechkin has 21 goals on the season thus far and soon we’ll have to really keep our eyes on him. He needs just 21 more goals to hit 700 in his career.

Per the game notes:

Alex Ovechkin has earned 91 points (48g, 43a) in 70 career games against the Lightning, tied for the most points he has earned against an NHL franchise (Atlanta/Winnipeg and Carolina: 91). Ovechkin ranks first in NHL history in goals (48) and first in points (91) earned against Tampa Bay and ranks fourth in assists (Nicklas Backstrom, Jaromir Jagr: 47, Daniel Alfredsson: 46). Ovechkin has earned 28 points in his last 20 games against Tampa Bay (19g, 9a).

Ovechkin scored in his last game against the Lightning and it was a part of a comeback from a 3-1 deficit with the game-tying goal to force overtime. The comeback was completed with Dmitry Orlov sniping in the game-winner.

Capitals vs. Lightning game info. light. Related Story

The rematch down in the sunshine state should be a good one. Saturday’s game with the Lightning will be the first of two meetings between the teams in the span of a week with the Bolts coming to D.C. one week from now. As for this game, puck drop is at 7 p.m on NBC Sports Washington.

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