Tuesday night at Verizon Center, Nicklas Backstrom had another one of those sublime performances that have punctuated his ten-year NHL career. And he did it quietly of course.
Backstrom tallied three assists, including the primary apple on Evgeny Kuznetsov’s game-winning goal, to help push the Capitals to a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Wild – the second best team in the Western Conference.
Backstrom earned primary assists on two of the goals. Backstrom found Nate Schmidt on his backhand with 12 seconds left in the first period.
Backstrom received a secondary assist on this Russian machine goal from his office.
Finally, Backstrom found Evgeny Kuznetsov with speed for a late second-period power play goal.
Backstrom’s three-point night gave the Swedish center 51 assists and 71 points on the season. The Capitals PR documented why that was significant.
This season marks #Caps Nicklas Backstrom's sixth career and fourth consecutive 70-point season.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) March 15, 2017
Since 2007-08, #Caps Backstrom ranks tied for fifth in the NHL in 70-point seasons (6).
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) March 15, 2017
#Caps Nicklas Backstrom's third assist marked his 50th assist of the season. He ranks 1st in the NHL in 50-assist seasons since 2007-08 (7).
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) March 15, 2017
Backstrom ranks first in #Caps history in 50-assist seasons and is the 35th player in NHL history to record seven or more 50-assist seasons.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) March 15, 2017
Tonight marks #Caps Nicklas Backstrom's third three-assist game of the season and 34th of his career.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) March 15, 2017
Since he entered the NHL in 2007-08, #Caps Nicklas Backstrom leads the NHL in three-assist games (34).
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) March 15, 2017
That’s stunning.
Nicklas Backstrom is a really good player and stuff pic.twitter.com/ncRQxPCFFh
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) March 15, 2017
Photo: Patrick McDermott
