Fansided

Top 3 Washington Capitals studs against Vegas Golden Knights

Now that Alex Ovechkin got a ton of love it's time to spread the rest. Who else stepped up for the Washington Capitals in last night's win?

By Michael Marzzacco |
Logan Thompson, Trevor van Riemsdyk, Lars Eller, Jakob Chychrun, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Logan Thompson, Trevor van Riemsdyk, Lars Eller, Jakob Chychrun, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images / Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
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The Washington Capitals took the second game of the three game west coast road trip by storm with a 5-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights behind an Alex Ovechkin hat trick. We all know Ovechkin is close to Wayne Gretzky. Who else stepped up in the victory?

#3 Jakob Chychrun

Jakob Chychrun should be extended sometime soon, at least in our opinion. He proved so again last night with another goal, his second in as many games, tying him for the second most among NHL defensemen.

Dylan Strome would record the primary assist which put him as one of five players in franchise history to register at least 26 points through the first 17 games of a season. He joins the trio of Alexander Semin in 2008-09, John Carlson in 2009-1, and Mike Gartner in 1984-85.

Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery told the media after the game via Paul Delos Santos of NHL.com:

We knew it was going to be a challenge, and I give our guys a ton of credit. We sort of took a day away from the rink and really wanted to focus on our physical and mental prep because we knew how difficult it was to have success in this building.
Spencer Carbery
Logan Thompson, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Logan Thompson, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images / Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

#2 Logan Thompson

Logan Thompson once again put on a clinic against his former team but this time in his former backyard at T-Mobile Arena. He finished the night with a .952 save percentage and 40 saves off 42 shots to up his win total to 8-0-1. Overall this season he has a 2.63 goals against average and a .913 save percentage.

On the other side of the net Ilya Samsonov would face his former team for the first time since he was traded in 2022. Sammy finished with 20 saves on 24 shots for an .833 save percentage. The loss puts his record 3-2-1 with a 3.15 goals against average and a .897 save percentage.

Thompson would tell assembled media at T-Mobile Arena:

You forget how many good memories you have here and how much I love it here. The city meant a lot to me, and I love playing in front of the fans. ...But credit to the guys that were here with me and here before or that are no longer here. They really helped me, and I really needed a fresh start. But I couldn't be (happier) to spend my time as a Golden Knight.
Logan Thompson to NHL.com
Logan Thompson, Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Logan Thompson, Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images / Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

#1 Alex Ovechkin

Alex Ovechkin is number one on this list but not just because of his hat trick. In our 3 keys to the game, but his defensive play to help out LT. That's team captaincy and the greatest show in Vegas since Elvis.

It was a pretty cool atmosphere like always. We played hard. Right from the start everybody did their job blocking shots.
Alex Ovechkin

Without further ado, the three goals to put him 28 away from tying number one goal scorer Wayne Gretzky:

Ovechkin's hat trick was the 31st of his career, moving him to within one of Phil Esposito for the fifth most in NHL history. It was also the 16th career hat trick on the road. The only players with just as much in NHL history are Gretzky and Mario Lemieux with 19 and Marcel Dionne with 17.

This season Ovechkin has now upped his goal total to 13 and he's doing this at 39. He's tied for first in the NHL in goals scored with Leon Draisaitl and Sam Reinhart, both of whom are 29.

Ovechkin's power play that got the party started for all the red clad Caps fans who made the treck to Vegas was not only against Samsonov but it put Sammy at 177 among goaltenders Ovi has scored on in his 20 year career.

It tied Patrick Marleau for the most goaltenders scored on in NHL history. Only Jaromir Jagr has one more goal against goalies.

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