Alex Ovechkin's goal-scoring and Braden Holtby's goaltending are often seen as the major factors in the Washington Capitals' success, but it can't be ignored that the team also possesses two of the best playmakers in the NHL.

One is forward Nicklas Backstrom, who ranks fifth in the league with 45 assists, while the other moved into the top three in NHL scoring after an incredible performance Friday.

Evgeny Kuznetsov now leads the league with 41 primary assists after setting up three Capitals goals as his team downed the Nashville Predators 4-1.

The 23-year-old has seven assists during his five-game point streak, and now has 53 total helpers on the season, trailing only Erik Karlsson.

"I knew he was a good center, but I didn’t know he was this good," said forward Daniel Winnik, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press. The trade-deadline acquisition had his first of two goals Friday set up by Kuznetsov.

His second assist came on what has become a trademark play for the Russian - a behind-the-back pass from behind the net - to set up T.J. Oshie's eventual game-winner.

"That’s kind of the stuff you have to expect," Oshie said of the beautiful feed. "He sees things that maybe only a handful of players in the league can see."

The Capitals have been one of the most consistent teams this season, and it's hard to find a player who has embodied that consistency like Kuznetsov, who has produced at nearly a point-per-game pace before and after his first All-Star Game in January.

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The Winnipeg Jets honored former captain Andrew Ladd with a video tribute during Friday's game, his first in Winnipeg since being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks before the deadline.

Ladd raised his stick and saluted the crowd at the MTS Centre after the video ran during a stoppage in the first period.

The 30-year-old spent parts of six seasons with the Jets franchise, joining the Atlanta Thrashers in 2010-11.

He ranks fourth in goals scored (139) and fifth in points (305) in franchise history.

Ladd is in his second stint with the Blackhawks after playing with Chicago from 2007 to 2010, a tenure that concluded with a Stanley Cup championship.

(Courtesy: NHL.com)

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Daniel Winnik, the only forward acquired ahead of the trade deadline by the Washington Capitals, has struggled to contribute with the league's best team, being held pointless through his first seven games since being dealt from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

That all changed Friday against the Nashville Predators, as the 31-year-old scored his first two goals as a Capital to record his first multi-goal game in more than three seasons, with his last one coming as a member of the Anaheim Ducks.

His first goal came after a pair of incredible passes. Goaltender Braden Holtby sent a beautiful pass down ice to a wide-open Evgeny Kuznetsov during a Predators line change. The Russian then fed Winnik, who wristed the puck into the open net.

He sniped his second over Carter Hutton's shoulder to give the Capitals a 3-1 lead. The goal also marked the 200th point of his NHL career.

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The Buffalo Sabres don't have a playoff run to prepare for, but they should have plenty to be excited about in the future.

Sam Reinhart netted his 20th goal of the season Friday night against the Ottawa Senators, giving the franchise its first duo of rookie 20-goal scorers since Danny Gare and Peter McNab in 1974-75.

The Sabres now have two rookies with 35 points in a season for the first time since 1987-88, when that feat was accomplished by three players - Pierre Turgeon, Ray Sheppard, and Calle Johansson.

Jack Eichel entered the game with a team-leading 22 goals, ranking second on the Sabres with 48 points and sixth on the club in average time-on-ice at 19:09.

Reinhart came into the contest tied with Evander Kane for second on the team in goals and ranking fourth in points.

Eichel was selected second overall in the 2015 draft, and Reinhart was chosen with the same pick in 2014.

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After playing just three games since returning from suspension, Dennis Wideman's season is over due to injury.

The Calgary Flames defenseman will miss his team's final 12 games after suffering a tear in his triceps during Wednesday's game against the Winnipeg Jets, the team announced Friday.

The 32-year-old was injured in a collision with teammate Joe Colborne following a first-period goal from Michael Frolik.

General manager Brad Treliving said he was unsure if the defenseman would require surgery, according to Wes Gilbertson of Postmedia.

Wideman returned to the Flames' lineup on March 11 after being suspended 20 games as a result of his collision with linesman Don Henderson. His suspension was appealed, and ultimately reduced to 10 games, after the blue-liner had already sat out for 19.

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Robin Lehner is dealing with an ankle injury again.

The Buffalo Sabres goaltender will be kept off the ice for two or three days, head coach Dan Bylsma said Friday, according to John Vogl of The Buffalo News.

That means Lehner won't play Friday against the Ottawa Senators or Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Bylsma said there has been no thought of shutting the netminder down for the season with 11 games remaining.

Chad Johnson will start Friday and will likely go back-to-back against the Leafs on Saturday.

Lehner injured his ankle in the season opener and returned in mid-January. He's 5-9-5 with a 2.47 GAA and .924 save percentage in 21 games.

The Sabres recalled goaltender Nathan Lieuwen from the AHL's Rochester Americans, and Bylsma said Lieuwen will remain in the NHL for at least the next two games while Lehner is out.

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