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Top 3 key Washington Capitals to watch against Tampa Bay Lightning

Your Capitals are down in the Sunshine State

By Michael Marzzacco |
Connor McMichael, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
Connor McMichael, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images / John Jones-Imagn Images
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The Washington Capitals look to extend their five game winning streak tonight when they vist the Tampa Bay Lightning for the first of three meetings this season. Per the game notes the Caps have a record of 86-36-6-12 all time against Tampa Bay and are 5-3-2 in their last 10 games against the Lightning.

Last season Washington took the season series from Tampa Bay which included winning the lone game on the road. Tom Wilson and Dylan Strome each led the Caps with three assists. Alex Ovechkin has recorded 96 points in 81 career games against Tampa Bay with 50 goals and 46 assists.

If the Caps can win tonight it would be thir sixth win in a row and it would be the first time they reached a six game winning streak since March 2021. The Caps have outscored the opposition 23-13 since the start of the five game winning streak.

Here are the top 3 players to watch tonight:

#3 Connor McMichael

Connor McMichael had two goals in the Caps win over Philadelphia on Wednesday night and his four game point streak is tied for the longest in his career. Through the Caps first six games, McMichael ranks second on the team in assists, points, and plus/minus while tied for second in goals.

Dylan Strome, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Dylan Strome, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images / Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

#2 Dylan Strome

Dylan Strome recorded an assist on Oct. 23 in Philadelphia which exended his season opening point streak to six games with three goals and six assists for nine points. His current six game point streak is tied for the longest of his career, a feat he accomplished five other times, most recently fro Dec. 10 to Dec. 21, 2023.

Strome's nine points lead the Caps and rank tied for 16th in the NHL. Every skater who is tied with Strome in points or ranks ahead of him have played in seven or more games. Last year, Strome didn't record his ninth point of the season until his 16th game on Nov. 22.

Strome led the Caps in points last season and became the first player other than Alex Ovechkin to finish an 82 game season as Washington's points leader since Nicklas Backstrom in 2016-17. He established single season career highs in goals, points, and games played for the second straight season and reached the 40 assist mark for the second time in his career.

After recording 26 points in his first 41 games last season, Strome was a point per game player in the second half of the season.

Tom Wilson, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
Tom Wilson, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images / John Jones-Imagn Images

#1 Tom Wilson

Tom Wilson will look to get on the scoreboard as his four game season opening goal streak came to an end Oct. 22 in Philadelphia while his four game goal streak to start the season tied a franchise record. His recent goal streak was tied for the longest of his career and he would score two goals including the overtime winner.

Per Ryan Billie of Monumental Sports Network, the Capitals are 103-26-8 with a .781 point percenage when Wilson scores a goal. Washington's .781 point percentage when Wilson scores is the fifth highest among NHL players with at least 150 career goals.

Wilson looks to bounce back and he is more than capable of doing it. Especially against a team like the Tampa Bay Lightning where he's had good history against.

Wilson may very well help the Capitals make the playoffs for the second year in a row. And they have a chance to do so in convincing fashion if they can continue to stay hot. The Caps 15 playoff appearances since 2007-08 are tied with the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins for the most in the NHL in that stretch.

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