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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.

MONTREAL, QC – JANUARY 27: Washington Capitals defenceman Dmitry Orlov (9) passes the puck during the Washington Capitals versus the Montreal Canadiens game on January 27, 2020, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – JANUARY 27: Washington Capitals defenceman Dmitry Orlov (9) passes the puck during the Washington Capitals versus the Montreal Canadiens game on January 27, 2020, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Dmitry Orlov

While all eyes are on one Russian chasing a significant milestone, Dmitry Orlov has a milestone of his own on Sunday afternoon. Orlov will suit up in his 500th NHL game. He is the 30th Capitals player to reach the milestone and the 13th defensemen.

Per the game notes, this contest will also mark Orlov’s 399th consecutive game which is the fifth longest active streak in the NHL. Orlov will be ranked third behind John Carlson and Karl Alzner with the most consecutive games played with one team within their first 500 games.

Orlov had an assist on Evgeny Kuznetsov’s goal on Friday night. He has three goals and 20 assists for 23 points so far this season. He looks to light it up against the Penguins where he’s scored three times in his career and added six assists against Pittsburgh.

Orlov is on pace for 31 assists and 36 points which would set new career-highs in both categories. If he reaches 30 assists he would join the likes of Andrei Markov, Sergei Gonchar, Mikhail Sergachev, Slava Voynov, and Nikita Zaitsev as the only Russian defensemen to record 30 assists since 2010-11.

Orlov will look to keep the defense uptight in front of this next player who gets his first taste of the rivalry.

OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 31: Washington Capitals Goalie Ilya Samsonov (30) during warm-up before 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 Goalie Ilya Samsonov (30) during warm-up before 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) /

Ilya Samsonov

Ilya Samsonov will get the start in goal for the second straight game which is the right choice for Todd Reirden to go into this Super Bowl matchup. Samsonov made 25 saves on the 28 shots he faced on Friday to win his 11th in a row and continue his case for the Calder Trophy. With each win, it’s becoming more of a possibility.

Reirden told Samantha Pell of The Washington Post (subscription required) about the importance of the Braden Holtby-Ilya Samsonov tandom:

“I think right now we need both goalies. There are a lot of games coming up here after the all-star break, there always is, and we went Braden for two games in a row and now we will go with Ilya for two games in a row and see how that goes. I have a plan in mind, but this is one that we address every day and we are fortunate to have a young, up-and-coming goaltender that has performed very well and a Stanley Cup, Vezina winner as well.”

Samsonov carries a 16-2-1 record after Friday’s win with a 2.12 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage. It’ll be interesting seeing Samsonov in goal against a team like the Penguins.

WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 19: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) in the face off circle 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 left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) in the face off circle 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) /

Alex Ovechkin

Alex Ovechkin scored twice on Friday night to bring his career total to 695. He’s getting closer to 700 and it’s not if but when will the Great Eight reach the number. Ovechkin’s first goal came on a shot from the right face-off circle, an odd spot considering his office is usually left side. His second was an empty netter to seal a 5-3 win over the Ottawa Senators.

Ovechkin also scored in Wednesday night’s defeat to the Nashville Predators. He’s scored in his last five games a total of 11 goals and was named the NHL’s First Star of the Month for January.

Ovechkin’s second goal moved him past Mark Messier for eighth place on the NHL’s all-time goals scored list. Ovechkin’s 13 goals in 10 games are tied for the fourth most goals a player has scored in a month in 10 or fewer games since 1979-80.

Ovechkin has scored 11 goals in his last five games, a first in his career and the second time a player older than 34 has done so. It is also the first time he’s had multi-goal performances in the span of five appearances. He’s hungry for 700 and it may come this week at the rate he’s going.

More. Capitals vs. Penguins game info. light

Puck drop is at 12:30 p.m. on NBC. Enjoy the game.

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