5 Unsung Heroes Key to the Washington Capitals' Playoff Run

As the Washington Capitals head into their first postseason appearance under head coach Barry Trotz, there's a lot to like about the team's chances of making some noise in the Eastern Conference.  

After the franchise's first playoff-free campaign in seven years, few expected this group to capture home-ice advantage, but this may be the deepest and most well-rounded Capitals roster ever seen.

It starts at the top with Rocket Richard Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin and the vastly improved Braden Holtby, who have each been integral factors to Washington's success in the second half. 

But beyond those two (and the usual suspects such as Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson and Mike Green), the Caps have benefited from strong performances throughout the lineup as of late.

And that's critical in the postseason, as recent Stanley Cup finalists such as the Kings, Rangers, Blackhawks and Bruins have boasted depth at every position, allowing them to not have to rely too heavily on one forward or defenseman.   

Heading into the Capitals' Round 1 clash with the New York Islanders, here are five unsung heroes who will be key in determining Washington's playoff fortunes.

5. Tom Wilson

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Every successful playoff team needs players who aren't afraid to play the role of agitator from time to time—a job that guys like Andrew Shaw, Brad Marchand and Dustin Brown have done well for their respective clubs in recent years.

For the Caps, that guy is former first-rounder Tom Wilson.

Blessed with size, speed and a surprisingly good set of hands, Wilson has the tools to be a top-six forward at some point down the road. For now, he's a fourth-liner capable of chipping in offensively on occasion, but his physicality and assertiveness on the ice will be valuable this spring. 

Don't expect him to drop the gloves as willingly during the playoffs, but Wilson can keep opposing teams honest with his crunching checks and relentless forechecking, giving the Caps a more useful fourth line.

4. Tim Gleason

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Part of what has made the Capitals such a difficult team to play against is the wealth of high-end rearguards on the roster. 

Between Carlson, Karl Alzner, Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen, Washington has a very imposing top four, and the club's third pairing could be a force to be reckoned with, as well. 

That's because the third defensive unit is headlined by a two-time First Team NHL All-Star in Mike Green, and he finally has what appears to be a reliable partner in Tim Gleason.

No, Gleason won't bring fans out of their seats with his offensive abilities, but the former U.S. Olympian's physical presence and somewhat overly conservative style complements Green's offensive mentality perfectly. 

He's an upgrade over Nate Schmidt, John Erskine or any other fill-in the Caps could have paired Green with prior to the trade deadline, so even if he doesn't play big minutes, he brings value to the table.

3. Curtis Glencross

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Now on to Brian MacLellan's true prize of his first trade deadline as general manager: Curtis Glencross. 

At 32, and coming off a five-year postseason drought, the longtime Flame landed in D.C. just in time to see the Caps climb up the Eastern Conference standings.

Though Glencross' seven points in 17 games may not be overly impressive, his goals-per-game numbers have climbed by nearly 50 percent since being dealt by Calgary. 

A two-time 24-goal scorer, Glencross has the ability to contribute offensively, and regardless of where Trotz slots him, the fact that he's playing for his next contract means that he'll be doing as much as he can to get the Caps to the next level.

2. Brooks Orpik

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During his first season in Washington, Orpik finished third in hits among all NHL players, as well as fourth in blocked shots.

That's exactly the type of production the Caps were hoping for when they signed the longtime Penguin to a five-year deal last summer, but MacLellan didn't open the checkbook for Orpik's regular-season contributions.

As one of just two Caps on the roster with a Stanley Cup ring, Orpik's presence alone makes this club a more well-rounded postseason outfit, as his physicality and leadership are invaluable at this time of year.

He's emerged as one half of Washington's top penalty-killing unit, and if Orpik is playing big minutes, this is a much tougher team to play against.

1. Evgeny Kuznetsov

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On paper, it may appear that the Capitals rely heavily on Backstrom and Ovechkin to generate offense, and while that may be accurate to an extent, there are finally other weapons in Washington's arsenal. 

And perhaps the most important of those other weapons is rookie forward Evgeny Kuznetsov, who has progressed into the type of top-six forward the team projected the former first-rounder to be.  

No, he didn't pile up points the way Johnny Gaudreau, Mark Stone or Filip Forsberg did as rookies, but Kuznetsov overcame a slow start to finish seventh among all first-year forwards with 37 points. 

Since Alexander Semin left in 2012, the Caps haven't had a game-breaking talent capable of producing when Backstrom and Ovechkin are shut down, but Kuznetsov has all the tools to be that player. 

It remains to be seen whether he'll be able to create space for himself during the comparatively tighter-checking postseason, but with a sublime pair of hands and elusive skating abilities, Kuznetsov will make an impact against New York's dreadful penalty-killing unit.