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Capitals: Top 3 key players to watch against Penguins

By Michael Marzzacco

OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 31: Washington Capitals Defenceman Dmitry Orlov (9) celebrates a goal with teammates during third period National Hockey League action between the Washington Capitals and Ottawa Senators on January 31, 2020, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 31: Washington Capitals Defenceman Dmitry Orlov (9) celebrates a goal with teammates during third period National Hockey League action between the Washington Capitals and Ottawa Senators on January 31, 2020, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 19: Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom (19) and Pittsburgh Penguins center Riley Sheahan (15) face off during a NHL game between the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 19, 2018, at Capital One Arena, in Washington, D.C.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 19: Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom (19) and Pittsburgh Penguins center Riley Sheahan (15) face off during a NHL game between the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 19, 2018, at Capital One Arena, in Washington, D.C.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Washington Capitals finally take on the Pittsburgh Penguins for the first time in the 2019-20 season.

Fittingly enough, the game happens to fall on a Super Bowl Sunday and it’s an epic clash of two Metropolitan Division titans that are revered by the rest of the eastern conference. The Washington Capitals are coming off a win on Friday night over the Ottawa Senators 5-3.

T.J. Oshie and Evgeny Kuznetsov scored in the first period to give the Capitals an early 2-0 lead. Alex Ovechkin scored in the second and later added an empty netter while Carl Hagelin added his fourth goal of the season.

The Penguins are coming off a win in the battle of Pennsylvania with a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers won by Sidney Crosby in overtime.

This perfectly sets up the duel we’ve all been waiting for between Crosby and Ovechkin. The stars are out and have insane momentum on their side and both teams are at the top of the Metro Division. The Caps have the lead by six points, 75-69.

The Penguins despite their offseason losses and early season injuries are right behind the Caps, not too far from them and there’s four games that could decide who could win the Metro. Here are the top 3 Caps players to watch.

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