January has been rather kind to Nicklas Backstrom.
The Washington Capitals' center is the hottest scorer in the NHL right now, currently riding a nine-game point streak in which he's collected five multi-point efforts and 16 points overall.
The surge has pushed him into a tie with Vladimir Tarasenko for the fifth-highest output across the NHL with 46.
As it always has, it's Backstrom's playmaking ability that's driving his production. With two assists Saturday versus Dallas, the 29-year-old tied Patrick Kane with 33 helpers, second only to that Connor McDavid fellow.
Backstrom's playing at a point-per-game pace, and if he keeps it up, an 82-point total would be his highest mark since netting 101 in 2009-10.
Not only is Backstrom's streak impressive, it holds significance. In Ottawa on Jan. 7, Backstrom recorded his 500th career assist - the first Capital to do so. Then two games later versus Pittsburgh, he proved to be Alex Ovechkin's catalyst for the umpteenth time, notching the primary assist on his perpetual linemates' 1,000th career point.
All this in the midst of the Capitals winning 11 of their past 12 games.
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