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Capitals: Top 3 impact players to watch against Islanders

By Michael Marzzacco

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 04: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates against the New York Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on October 04, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. The Capitals defeated the Islanders 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 04: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates against the New York Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on October 04, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. The Capitals defeated the Islanders 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 16: Jakub Vrana #13 of the Washington Capitals celebrates after scoring a goal in the third period against the New Jersey Devils at Capital One Arena on January 16, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 16: Jakub Vrana #13 of the Washington Capitals celebrates after scoring a goal in the third period against the New Jersey Devils at Capital One Arena on January 16, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Jakub Vrana

Jakub Vrana has heated up with six goals in his last seven games. He added another on Thursday night to bring his total to 21 on the season.

Vrana’s goal came in the third period when he drove to the net and banged home a rebound off a pass that wound up becoming an unassisted goal.

https://twitter.com/Capitals/status/1217994713610866693

There’s already conversation starting that Vrana has the potential to be a 40-goal scorer. He can certainly reach it if he keeps up his momentum. The game notes indicate that he’s on pace for at least 36 goals and that would be the most by a Caps player other than Alex Ovechkin since T.J. Oshie’s 33-goal season in 2016-17. That’s 0.44 goals per game.

20 of Vrana’s goals came at even strength which is tied with David Pastrnak for the third-most in the NHL at 5-on-5. Vrana has scored a combined two power play goals over the last two seasons and he’s the only player in the NHL to have 43 goals at even strength over the last two years.

Could this mean Vrana might get a promotion from coach Todd Reirden to move from the second line to the first line sometime soon? We can’t wait to see.

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