Top 3 Capitals studs against Blackhawks
The Washington Capitals got a big win over the Chicago Blackhawks that they needed with nine games remaining. The final score was 6-1 and many players up and down the lineup contributed to the win.
But this is an article about the top three studs so we have to narrow this down to pick the three best players that rose to the occasion. It sets up a big matchup tomorrow night against the Pittsburgh Penguins on the road.
Whether the Caps make the playoffs or not, a win over the Penguins on Saturday could boost their morale especially with the game on national TV with not many Ovi vs. Sid games left.
#3 Nicklas Backstrom
Nicklas Backstrom had a power play goal in the second period at 8:12 that was assisted by Dylan Strome and John Carlson for his sixth goal of the season. HIs six goals tie last seasons mark and it took him 17 less games this year.
Backstrom has recorded four points in his last five games with two goals and two assists. His goal put the Caps up 4-0. Dylan Strome recorded the primary assist which was his 37th assist of the season, tying his single season career high. Welcome back.
#2 Alex Ovechkin
Alex Ovechkin put a cap on the game at 14:56 with a coast to coast breakaway where he backhanded in the shot. It was his 41st of the season. It was the 821st of his career. He’s 73 away from number one Wayne Gretzky in all time NHL goal scoring. Crazy.
That would mean it would take him like a season and a half to get there.
Ovechkin has been on a hot streak of late with four goals in his last three games and eight goals in his last 10 games. The losing surely hasn’t been on him.
Ovechkin also had an assist on Anthony Mantha’s goal. With two points on the night, Ovechkin extended his point streak to six games with five goals and five assists which is tied for his longest point streak of the season.
Earlier in the season Ovechkin had a hat trick against the Blackhawks in Chicago. It was his 798th, 799th and 800th career goals. His efforts helped the Capitals sweep the two game series with the Blackhawks this season with a combined result from the two games 13-4. The Caps won the first meeting in December 7-3.
Ovechkin and Backstrom were great but this next player was the big story.
#1 John Carlson
The number one stud of the game was none other than John Carlson making his return for the first time since Dec. 23. Carlson, Ovechkin, Backstrom, as well as Dylan Strome each recorded two points in the win. Per Capitals PR, the Capitals are 22-0-1 all time in games where Ovechkin, Backstrom, and Carlson tally two or more points.
Carlson had the secondary assist on the Backstrom goal in the second period. He scored 1:04 into the third period on the power play on a slapshot from up top. It was his signature shot.
Even though he’s missed a lot of time, he still has nine goals on the season. Like Tom Wilson, if Carlson wasn’t hurt he could be flirting with career high numbers.
It was the first time the trip recorded multiple points in the same game since April 13, 2021. Washington has a record of 563-310-111 with a .629 points percentage since 2010-11, Carlson’s rookie year. That’s the third highest pints percentage in the NHL in that span.
This season the Capitals are 10-2-0 when Carlson records an assist. He has six multi point games this season and 140 in his career.
Darcy Kuemper talked about how rough life had been without Carlson:
“We miss him. In my position, I definitely missed him. We’ve been watching all the hard work he’s been putting in. To see someone go through something so scary and then make a comeback like that, then have that performance, it was pretty special.”
light. Hot. Capitals dominate Blackhawks
Those are the top 3 studs of last night’s game. Tomorrow night the Caps head to Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins on ABC.