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Capitals: Top 3 key players to watch against Golden Knights

By Michael Marzzacco

LAS VEGAS, VA - JUNE 7:Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) skates with the Stanley Cup after winning Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Washington Capitals and the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday, June 7, 2018. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, VA - JUNE 7:Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) skates with the Stanley Cup after winning Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Washington Capitals and the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday, June 7, 2018. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /
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OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 31: Carl Hagelin #62 of the Washington Capitals looks on in a game against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on January 31, 2020 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 31: Carl Hagelin #62 of the Washington Capitals looks on in a game against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on January 31, 2020 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images) /

Carl Hagelin

Carl Hagelin scored the lone goal in Saturday night’s Capitals loss to the Arizona Coyotes which marked his fifth goal of the season. Hagelin crashed the net and finished up a play created by Richard Panik.

Hagelin has recorded nine points in Washington’s last 11 games with four goals and five assists while Richard Panik has begun to heat up with six points including two goals and four assists. Honestly the third line will be a key tonight no matter who is centering it. Look for Washington to likely go with their same lineup tonight with Evgeny Kuznetsov still out due to injury.

Per the game notes, Hagelin and Panik have played 319:16 this season at five-on-five outscoring opponents 19-10. The pair has a 56.75 on-ice shot attempt percentage despite taking 70.7 percent of their shift beginning face-offs outside of the Caps offensive zone.

Look for Hagelin to continue to lead on the penalty kill tonight. He leads Caps forwards with 2:51 PK minutes per game which ranks him fourth among forwards in the NHL. Hagelin has a 3.58 goals against per 60 minutes which ranks second among forwards with at least 100 minutes on the PK this season.

Hagelin is beginning to heat up and his momentum will help the Caps as they try to get out of their funk.

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