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Washington Capitals: Stars Of The Week – Kovalchuk Is A Capital

By CJ Witt

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 25: Ilya Kovalchuk #17 of the Washington Capitals looks on against the Winnipeg Jets during the second period at Capital One Arena on February 25, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 25: Ilya Kovalchuk #17 of the Washington Capitals looks on against the Winnipeg Jets during the second period at Capital One Arena on February 25, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 25: Ilya Kovalchuk #17 of the Washington Capitals skates against the Winnipeg Jets at Capital One Arena on February 25, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 25: Ilya Kovalchuk #17 of the Washington Capitals skates against the Winnipeg Jets at Capital One Arena on February 25, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

What a week it was for the Washington Capitals.

The on ice results were mixed. A 4-3 shootout win vs the Jets after Washington had a 3-0 lead. A 3-0 loss to the same Winnipeg team, this time up in Canada. Then a 4-3 win in Minnesota over the Wild.

It’s now time for us to name our stars of the week. If you don’t know how we do this let me remind you. The stars of the week will be based on how much a player contributed on the score sheet, how good his advanced stats were and finally how noticeable he was during the games.

Simple as that. With that being pointed out it’s now time to name the stars of the week.

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 25: Ilya Kovalchuk #17 of the Washington Capitals skates against the Winnipeg Jets at Capital One Arena on February 25, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 25: Ilya Kovalchuk #17 of the Washington Capitals skates against the Winnipeg Jets at Capital One Arena on February 25, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Ilya Kovalchuk

While the on ice results were mixed, the week was an exciting one thanks to the trade deadline acquisition of Ilya Kovalchuk. The 36-year-old played his first game with Washington against the Jets on the 25th.

Kovalchuk didn’t wow you with incredible stats this week. I thought he was one of the most noticeable players however. Not sure how much that’s saying on this team this season though. He managed to get one point this week. That was an assist vs the Wild on an Alex Ovechkin goal.

Kovalchuk had some good advanced stats as well this week. He had a 51.95 Corsi rating, having 40 shots attempts for and 37 against while on the ice. He also had 23 scoring chances for while on the ice and 21 against. That gave him a 52.27% rating.

On the downside he did have nine high danger attempts for and 12 against while on the ice and zero high danger goals for and three against. That has to get better going forward.

Kovalchuk ranked third in shots on the team this week with nine shots on goal. He ranked third in scoring chances as well with, once again, nine. Finally he also was third in high danger attempts with four.

Lastly, he tied for the most penalties drawn this week with two, the other man to draw two penalties was Garnet Hathaway.

Being one of the more noticeable guys when it’s your first week with the team I think is a pretty good accomplishment. Kovalchuk was that, he put up the stats and had some good advanced numbers. For all of that I think he definitely deserves to be one of our stars of the week.

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