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Capitals: Top 3 key players to watch against Canadiens

By Michael Marzzacco

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 11: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals wears a camouflage jersey during warmups in honor of Veterans Day before a game against the Arizona Coyotes at Capital One Arena on November 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 11: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals wears a camouflage jersey during warmups in honor of Veterans Day before a game against the Arizona Coyotes at Capital One Arena on November 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 11: Washington Capitals Goalie Ilya Samsonov (30) covers the puck during a NHL game between the Arizona Coyotes and the Washington Capitals on November 11, 2019, at Capital One Arena, in Washington D.C.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 11: Washington Capitals Goalie Ilya Samsonov (30) covers the puck during a NHL game between the Arizona Coyotes and the Washington Capitals on November 11, 2019, at Capital One Arena, in Washington D.C.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Washington Capitals return to the ice Friday night at Capital One Arena where they’ll host the Montreal Canadiens.

The Washington Capitals contest Friday night is the first of a back-to-back affair. They’ll be in Boston on Saturday night. This game is the first of three meetings between the Capitals and Canadiens this season. Last season the Caps won two of those three games, going 2-1-0. At home against the Canadiens, the Capitals are 39-33-9-2 all-time.

The Caps are coming off a shootout win on Wednesday night in Philadelphia to improve their record to 14-2-4 with 32 points. It’s not only the most in the NHL but it’s also their highest point total through the first 20 games in franchise history.

The Canadiens are second in the Atlantic Division with a 10-5-3 record (23 points) and a shootout win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night.

There was some news coming from morning skate Friday. Nic Dowd is day-to-day with a hand injury that he suffered on Wednesday night. Ilya Samsonov will get the start in goal.

There are several players worth watch but here is the top 3 to keep an eye on tonight on the Capitals.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 13: Brendan Leipsic #28 of the Washington Capitals celebrates his first period goal against the Philadelphia Flyers with Garnet Hathaway #21 and John Carlson #74 on November 13, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 13: Brendan Leipsic #28 of the Washington Capitals celebrates his first period goal against the Philadelphia Flyers with Garnet Hathaway #21 and John Carlson #74 on November 13, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) /

3. Brendan Leipsic

Brendan Leipsic had been an NHL journeyman the last four years, playing among several teams, but he seems to have found a home in Washington. On Wednesday night he scored his second goal in his last six games by driving to the net and deflected in a shot from John Carlson to give the Capitals an early 1-0 lead.

Leipsic has gelled well on the fourth line with Nic Dowd and Garnet Hathaway. The trio has a Corsi For percentage of 61.54%.

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