Capitals: Top 3 impact players to watch against Islanders

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: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates after scoring his third goal of the game for a hat trick against the New Jersey Devils in the third period at Capital One Arena on January 16, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 16: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates after scoring his third goal of the game for a hat trick against the New Jersey Devils in the third period at Capital One Arena on January 16, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)

Alex Ovechkin

Alex Ovechkin was angry after he took that high sticking non call to the face that had him bleeding. Note to other teams, maybe not the best thing to do to the Washington Capitals superstar.

He turned that anger into another hat trick, his 25th of his career and second of the season. Ovechkin is currently tied with Cy Denneny for ninth place on the all-time hat trick list.

Not only that, Ovechkin’s three goals increased his career total to 689, 11 away from the big 700. He needs just two goals to pass Mario Lemieux for 10th place on the NHL’s all-time goals list.

“Like how I said it never gets old but without my team and without my teammates, I never reach the milestones that I reach,” Ovechkin told the media after the game.

Ovechkin’s first goal came on a shot from the office on the power play. His next one came from that same area but that still won’t get old. Perhaps the best part of Ovechkin’s third goal wasn’t that he crashed the net but rather the sick backhanded pass that Tom Wilson set him up with.

Ovechkin won’t suit up for the All Star Game so by league rules he must sit out either the Capitals final game before the break or first game after the break. He chose to play today.

Those are our top 3 impact players to watch today. You can catch the game at 1 p.m. on NBC Sports Washington.