Jack Eichel has a "Golden" chance to be the MVP for Sunday's game... and the season

Jack Eichel has been red-hot for the Vegas Golden Knights in the past five games. He's scored two goals and nine assists during that span. He's gotten six power play points and has 18 shots, making him one of the most dangerous players on the team. Two of those assists came on Friday against the Utah Hockey Club, leading a 4-2 comeback victory.

Obviously, he will be a key player in Sunday's game against the Washington Capitals. While the focus will be on Logan Thompson returning to T-Mobile Arena, Eichel will be a primary player on the ice.

It's as inevitable as death or taxes. That's especially true with the four-time All Star having 22 assists (second-most in the NHL heading into Sunday) and 27 points (fourth-most in the NHL). It's an emerging party of sorts for the center, who's had heightened expectations since he's entered the league. Now, fans are seeing his capabilities as he shows himself to be an elite center.

How has the center done in his career against the Capitals? Has he gotten the better of Alexander Ovechkin during his regular season matchups? Does he have a shot at the Hart Memorial Trophy? Eichel has set the NHL on fire with stellar play when healthy. Here's a breakdown of everything entering Sunday's game.

How Jack Eichel has done against the Washington Capitals all-time

In 22 career games, Jack Eichel has recorded 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) against the Washington Capitals. The former second-overall pick has three goals and three assists during his Golden Knights tenure against the Capitals (six games). He scored three goals and 10 assists (16 games) against Ovechkin's motley crew during his Buffalo Sabres days.

Overall, he's been decent against the Capitals, with his better days tilting slightly towards the Golden Knights. Granted, he's dealt with underwhelming teams during his six seasons with the Sabres. However, his output with his former team against Washington is still good.

Those numbers will come into play in Sunday's game. The Golden Knights are looking to build off their hot start at T-Mobile Arena, with Logan Thompson's new team heading to town. Will Vegas get a big win against a solid team like the Capitals on Sunday? Stay tuned.

Still, Eichel will be a key factor based on what he brings. He's excellent in every hockey aspect, ranging from the transition game to the power play. Therefore, it's expected that he'll impact Sunday's matchup. However, there's more to his play than tonight's game. It could also impact how he does in the Hart Memorial Trophy race.

Does Eichel have a realistic shot at winning the Hart Memorial Trophy?

Last time, Mark Stone was mentioned as a potential name to watch for in the Hart Memorial Trophy race. He scored six goals and 15 assists before suffering a lower-body injury on November 6 against the Edmonton Oilers. His Hart chances took a hit, along with his Selke Trophy chances.

Now, the ball's in Eichel's court. As mentioned, he'll have stiff competition against reputable names like reigning Hart Trophy winner, Nathan MacKinnon (NHL-best 33 points) and Kirill Kaprizov (11 goals, 20 assists, 31 points). There are also names such as Nikita Kucherov who could cause problems. Therefore, winning the Hart Trophy won't be easy for No. 9.

But there's also the injury aspect that could be problematic for Eichel. He's suffered lower-body injuries in the past three seasons, where he's played 164 total games before 2024-25. His Hart Trophy chances also hinge on if he stays on the ice for a full (or close to full) 82-game slate.

It's high time hockey fans started recognizing Eichel for the elite talent he is as a center. He made Jonathan Marchessault look like a premier goal-scorer last season (42 goals for the former Conn Smythe winner). Now? He's making Stone and Ivan Barbashev look sharp. There's plenty of reason to believe he can be the NHL's MVP, leading the Golden Knights to another deep playoff run. But that's what making everyone else look good does for you.