3 Capitals players who must step up following Evgeny Kuznetsov trade
The Caps welcome Kuzy and the Canes to town Friday nigh
It's been two weeks since Evgeny Kuznetsov was traded by the Washington Capitals to the Carolina Hurricanes. Now the Capials will welcome their ex Stanley Cup hero as a visitor for the first time ever on Friday night when the Caps host the Canes. Here are 3 Caps players that need to step up now that Kuznetsov is gone.
#3 Hendrix Lapierre
Number three is Hendrix Lapierre. He sometimes centers top six minutes but last night he centered the third line with Max Pacioretty and Sonny Milano to his side. The 2020 first rounder helps provide depth and make fourth liner Nic Dowd's life a little bit easier. Lapierre scored in the Caps win over the Calgary Flames the other night and so far has eight goals and seven assists for 15 points in 37 games played this season.
Lapierre scored in his NHL debut in 2021 but was sent back overseas after six games. Then he was an impact player that helped the Heshey Bears win the Calder Cup last spring. Now he looks to make some noise this spring and perhaps get his first taste of NHL playoff action.
It'll be a tall order which is why Lappy is one of the keys to step up.
#2 Connor McMichael
Connor McMichael has needed to step up for the longest time and lately the young center from the 2019 draft has delivered. The first rounder has fully graduated to the NHL after he helped lead the Bears to their Calder Cup a year ago.
After a long scoring slump, McMichael has three goals in his last five games. That included a goal in last night's losing effort against the Toronto Maple Leafs as well as goals in back to back nights on the road trip in a loss to Edmonton and a win over Seattle.
McMichael now has 15 goals and 13 assists for 28 points in 66 games. Now he centers the top line with Alex Ovechkin and typically T.J. Oshie though he was with Mike Sgarbossa last night. McMichael can be one of those X factors should the Caaps qualify for a playoff spot. Though now they have to chase the Red Wings again as the Caps are a point back of the second wild card spot.
Mikey said, watch your back! pic.twitter.com/mThvecI4W3
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 21, 2024
To make matters worse, the Red Wings play the Islanders tonight so the Caps need to win tomorrow against the Hurricanes either way.
#1 Alex Ovechkin
All eyes are back on Alex Ovechkin and for good reason. After four goals in two games the great chase is back on. Now with another good teammate gone in Evgeny Kuznetsov, the great eight has to step up more and so far he certainly has. Ovi also has five goals in his last three games and has scored in three straight games.
Ovechkin now has 23 goals and 31 assists for 54 points. He is one goal away from matching his career low which came in a COVID season that was short in the return to hockey. He had eight goals through the first 43 games and now he has 15 in his last 22.
So when the great eight heats up it's always a good thing. Even though the Caps lost on National TV, Ovechkin showed out in front of the hockey world as he and Auston Matthews each had a pair of goals. It's important down this strtch that Ovechkin continues to score.
Ovechkin now sits just 49 goals away from tying Wayne Gretzky for number one all time in goal scoring. Crazy to be typing this. Let the countdown begin.
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