NHL's Biggest Capital Killers Part II

This installment of Capital Killers profiles the top 5 opponents that did the most damage to the Capitals over the past two seasons.


#5 Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta Thrashers - Kovalchuk played 14 games against the Capitals scoring 9 goals and 10 assists for 19 points. 9 of his points came on the power play (3G, 6A) and he had 1 game winning goal. His +10 rating in tied for 2nd highest among all Capital opponents. The Atlanta winger also leads all opponents with 23 giveaways and 31 missed shots. He is 2nd in takeaways with 20. He was taken first overall by Atlanta in the 2001 draft. This season he has 5 goals and 4 assists in 9 games. In the season opener this year he had 1 assist in the 3-1 loss to Washington.


#4 Rod Brind'Amour, Carolina Hurricanes - The Carolina center had 19 points in 16 games against Washington, 9 goals and 10 assists. His most impressive stat is his face-offs. Of the 438 draws against the Caps he has won 265 of them for a 60.5 win percentage. His 5 power play goals ties him with Pittsburgh's Mark Recchi for most among Capital opponents. Brind'Amour was the first round pick of the St. Louis Blues in 1988. He was traded to Philadelphia in 2000. He has 2 goals and 11 assists in 10 games this season. He was held pointless against Washington in the October 6th game at Verizon Center.


#3 Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning - Lecavalier put up 12 goals and 10 assists for 22 points in 15 games against the Caps. Included in those points are 4 power play goals, 3 power play assists, 1 game winning goal, and 4 shorthanded goals. He has the most goals and shorthanded goals of any Washington opponent. He won the "Rocket" Richard Trophy for most goals in the NHL last season with 52 goals. His one downfall was the shootout. Against Washington he recored no goals on 4 attempts. Tampa drafted Lecavalier #1 overall in the 1998 draft. This season he has 4 goals and 4 assists in 7 games. The Capitals held him pointless in the Caps October 24th 5-3 win over Tampa.


#2 Marian Hossa, Atlanta Thrashers - In 16 games Hossa had 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points against Washington. On the power play he had 3 goals and 8 assists. He scored the game winning goal 2 times and had 1 shorthanded goal. He also led all opponents with 21 takeaways against the Caps. His +/- rating was the third highest amount at +9. Hossa was drafted in the first round of the 1997 draft by Ottawa. He was traded to Atlanta in 2005. This season he has 2 goals and 1 assist in 6 games and sat out 2 games with a groin injury. In the October 5th season opener against the Caps he did not have a point.


#1 Marc Savard, Boston Bruins & Atlanta Thrashers - Marc Savard is the #1 Capitals Killer. Against Washington, he played 8 games with Atlanta and 4 games with Boston. In the 12 games he put up 27 points for a gaudy 2.25 points per game average. He recorded 4 goals and 23 assists. On the power play he had 3 goals and 12 assists. He scored 1 game winning goal, had a +11 rating and was a solid 52% in the face-off circle. Savard was drafted by the Rangers in 1995. In 1999 he was traded to Calgary. Calgary traded him to Atlanta in 2002. In 2006 he signed with Boston as an unrestricted free agent. This season he has 1 goal and 8 assists in 9 games.