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Capitals: Top 3 impact players to watch against Canadiens

By Michael Marzzacco |
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 29: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals wears Kobe Bryant’s number 24 on his jersey as he warm ups before playing against the Nashville Predators at Capital One Arena on January 29, 2020 in Washington, DC. Ovechkin wore the number 24 to honor former NBA player Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash on January 26. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 29: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals wears Kobe Bryant’s number 24 on his jersey as he warm ups before playing against the Nashville Predators at Capital One Arena on January 29, 2020 in Washington, DC. Ovechkin wore the number 24 to honor former NBA player Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash on January 26. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 15: Evgeny Kuznetsov #92 of the Washington Capitals celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at Capital One Arena on November 15, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 15: Evgeny Kuznetsov #92 of the Washington Capitals celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at Capital One Arena on November 15, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

The Washington Capitals return home to take on the Montreal Canadiens tonight. Let’s take a deep dive into the matchup.

The Washington Capitals (37-17-5, 79 points) look to bounce back to both a home ice defeat to the Montreal Canadiens and a two-game slide on their west coast road trip out in the desert.

Two tough losses to the Arizona Coyotes and the Vegas Golden Knights sink the Capitals out of first place in the Metropolitan Division. Now the Pittsburgh Penguins have leapfrogged them into first place making Sunday’s matchup and the race to the finish all the more bigger.

The Capitals are 16-9-4 on home ice this season but have only won one of their past five home games. That included three of four defeats on their four-game homestand in early February and although they had an impressive comeback over the Los Angles Kings, that was a game they almost dropped had it not been for Alex Ovechkin’s heroics.

After their loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, the Capitals acquired defensemen Brenden Dillon from the San Jose Sharks to help strengthen a defense that’s been struggling.

There’s a plethora of players to keep an eye on in tonight’s game. Here’s our top 3.

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 15: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals in action against the Montreal Canadiens at Capital One Arena on November 15, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 15: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals in action against the Montreal Canadiens at Capital One Arena on November 15, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Alex Ovechkin

Alex Ovechkin looks to end a season long five game goal-less drought and finally score his 700th goal. Ironically I predicted tonight would be the night a few weeks ago.

Tonight is Ovechkin’s 1,143rd game. It took Wayne Gretzky 886 games and Brett Hull 1,157 games to reach 700 goals meaning Ovechkin would become the third fastest player to reach the mark if he gets two goals tonight. He would make the jump from 600 to 700 in just 153 games, the fewest games to make a leap for any member of the 700-goal club.

Per the game notes, Ovechkin has averaged 0.61 goals per game in his career, ranking fifth in NHL history which includes an NHL-best 0.58 rating since his 30th birthday in 2015. Only two players in the 700 goal club have scored at a rate of .50 goals per game or higher from the age of 30 on.

Facing Ovechkin will be Canadiens netminder Carey Price. In his career, Ovechin has 20 goals against him which is the fourth-most goals he has scored against a single netminder.

Ovechkin had four shots on goal the other night in Washington’s defeat against Vegas in 21:31. Look for him to get the puck often to put on a show for the home fans.

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 10: John Carlson #74 of the Washington Capitals skates against the New York Islanders the New York Islanders at Capital One Arena on February 10, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 10: John Carlson #74 of the Washington Capitals skates against the New York Islanders the New York Islanders at Capital One Arena on February 10, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

John Carlson

Alex Ovechkin isn’t the only Capitals player chasing history tonight. John Carlson is two points away from passing Calle Johansson (474) for the most points in franchise history by a defensemen. Carlson leads all defensemen in assists with 55 which is also ranked second in the NHL. He also leads all defensemen with 70 points.

In Monday night’s loss against Vegas, Carlson became one of five defensemen to reach the 70-point mark in 59 or fewer games in the last 30 years and the first since Phil Housley of the Winnipeg Jets did so in the 1992-93 season.

Carlson was credited with the secondary assist on T.J. Oshie’s second goal of the night in Washington’s third period comeback attempt Monday night in Vegas. He also had two assists in Washington’s comeback win over the Colorado Avalanche.

Carlson also has 15 goals on the season, his last goal coming against the New York Islanders in a loss. That goal was a shot that initially looked like it went off Ovechkin but unfortunately for him it didn’t.

How and when will Carlson past Johansson? We can’t wait to find out.

The defense has to improve tonight and this next player will be taking the ice next to Carlson as the newest member in town.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 14: Brenden Dillon #4 of the San Jose Sharks awaits a face off against the Arizona Coyotes during the second period of the NHL game at Gila River Arena on January 14, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Sharks 6-3. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 14: Brenden Dillon #4 of the San Jose Sharks awaits a face off against the Arizona Coyotes during the second period of the NHL game at Gila River Arena on January 14, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Sharks 6-3. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Brenden Dillon

Making his Capitals debut tonight will be defensemen Brenden Dillon who the Capitals acquired from the San Jose Sharks ahead of the trade deadline in exchange for a 2020 second round pick and a conditional 2021 third round pick. The Sharks are also retaining 50 percent of Dillon’s salary in the deal.

General manager Brian MacLellan was excited about the addition and said in the press release:

“Brenden is an experienced defenseman who plays a solid defensive game with a high compete level and physicality. We felt it was important for us to add a player of his caliber to our defensive group.”

Dillon took the ice at morning skate with his new teammates and skated on the top pair alongside John Carlson. Dmitry Orlov took rushes with Nick Jensen on the second pair while Michal Kempny moved to the third pair with Radko Gudas. Jonas Siegenthaler will be the healthy scratch and look for Dillon to take his spot on the penalty kill as well.

Dillon recorded 14 points (one goal, 13 assists) in 59 games with the Sharks this season and is nearly on pace for his third straight season with at least 20 points.

Hot. What Does Brenden Dillon Bring To The Washington Capitals. light

Dillon and Carlson will be a deadly duo and hopefully this addition will help fix a blueline that’s been struggling. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. on NBC Sports Washington and NBCSN.

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