Top 3 impact Capitals to watch against Penguins
The top 3 Washignton Captials players to watch in tonight's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Puck drop at 7:30 p.m. on Hulu and ESPN plus.
The Washington Capitals take on the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight at 7:30 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena. You can catch the game exclusively on Hulu and ESPN plus. Tonight is the second of four meetings between the two teams this season. The Penguins won the first meeting on Oct. 13 by a final of 4-0.
The teams will meet once again in Pittsburgh on March 7 while the season series concludes on April 4 in DC. At lot is at stake in this one as both teams have 40 points and are two of three teams in that spot in the Metropolitan Division. The Caps will see the other one of those teams tomorrow night.
Here are the top 3 impact players to watch tonight:
#3 Anthony Mantha
Anthony Mantha has recorded 12 points with eight goals and four assists in his last 16 games and has led the Capitals in points since Nov. 29. Mantha was on a three game goal streak with four goals in those three games as well as a four game point streak with four goals and one assist. It came to an end on Dec. 29 at the New York Islanders.
Mantha scored his 11th goal of the season and his team leading 10th even strength goal on Dec. 27 at the New York Rangers. He's on pace for 28 goals this season while Vrana struggled with the Blues.
#2 Aliaksei Protas
A big part of Mantha's success has been his line mate Aliaksei Protas. He has recorded five assists in his last six games. The 2019 third rounder that was drafted by the Capitals at 91st overall had a career long four game point and assist streak that came to an end on Dec. 29 at the Islanders.
Protas four game assist streak was the longest by a Capital this season. He ranks second on the Caps in assists behind john Carlson and second in primary assists behind Alex Ovechkin this season. Eight of Protas' 15 assists have been primary.
With an assist on Dec. 23 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on a goal by Anthony Mantha, Protas established a new single season career high in points with in 28 fewer games played. He has led the Caps in points since Nov. 1 with 17 in 26 games.
Protas leads the Caps with 17 even strength points this season and ranks first in the NHL in points per 60 minutes at five on five among skaters with at least 30 games played with 5.17.
#1 Dylan Strome
Dylan Strome has been an MVP this season for the Capitals. He had his eighth assist of the season on Alex Ovechkin's game tying goal on Dec. 30 against the Nashville Predators. The center leads the Capitals in goals with 13 and is tied with Ovechkin for first on the team in points with 21.
Strome's six game point streak came to an end on Dec. 23 against Tampa Bay where he had three goals and four assists for seven points. It tied for the longest point streak of his career which he's done five times. Three of Strome's five career six game point streaks have come with Washington.
Strome scored the overtime winner in Washington's 3-2 win over the Islanders on Dec. 20 and had the primary assist on Ovechkin's overtime goal on Dec. 21 at the Columbus Blue Jackets. It marked his second overtime goal of the season as well as the second of his career.
Eight of Strome's 13 goals this season have come in the third period or overtime. His overtime goal came on the power play, marking his team leading fourth power play goal of the season. He's on pace for 31 goals this season.
Reminder you can catch tonight's game at 7:30 p.m. only on Hulu and ESPN plus.