3 players who have something to prove in the final weeks

The Washington Capitals have been on an upswing with three wins in a row against really good playoff teams. As the regular season winds down and teams gear up for the hardest tournament in sports, which players need to prove themselves down the stretch. The answers might shock you.

Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov have proven themselves. As has Nicklas Backstrom when he came back from injury. T.J. Oshie is good when healthy. Anthony Mantha has provided a spark. So which Capitals is it that need to step up to the plate as the regular season winds down?

#3 Connor McMichael

Connor McMichael has been really good when given the opportunity. He was a healthy scratch for a couple of games recently despite breaking out of a slump. This season he’s had nine goals and nine assists for 18 points.

McMichael’s best attribute is his speed and the way he drives to the net. The big reasoning for his slump was that he was having a hard time finishing scoring chances. He told the media this after a goal against the Carolina Hurricanes last month:

"“It feels great. … I’ve had a lot of chances, and unfortunately they haven’t dropped. When you’re in a slump, it just takes a goal like that to get you out of it. Hopefully I can pick it up and start rolling.”"