40 – Number of points combined for the Caps’ third-line trio of Andre Burakovsky, Lars Eller and Brett Connolly since being pieced together back on December 31. Prior to joining forces 21 games ago (one of which featured Connolly subbing for T.J. Oshie on the top line), the three players accounted for just 23 points combined through the season’s first 34 games.
Burakovsky leads the way with 16 points (7-9-16) over the stretch, his points-per-game rate almost doubling from .42 (when he had 13 points in 31 games) to .80.
The most notable improvement, however, has been with his linemates.
Eller had just three goals and three assists through the first 33 games of the year; he’s doubled that total since, picking up seven goals and five assists over the last 20.
As for Connolly, he’s tripled his output – he managed just four points (3-1-4) to start the season, appearing in just 20 of the season’s first 34 games. Since then? Not only has he not missed a game since joining Eller and Burakovsky, but he’s piled up eight goals and 12 points over that span.
Together they’ve easily become one of the best “third lines” in the League. In fact, among players averaging 15 minutes or less per game, all three rank in the top 10 in points since the New Year; no other team has more than one player on that list.