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During the course of the 2020-21 season, the Washington Capitals’ fourth-line of Carl Hagelin, Nic Dowd, and Garnet Hathaway was arguably the team’s most consistent line, adding a little bit of everything on a nightly basis. A season later, the trio has continued to be a hard-working, consistent line for Head Coach Peter Laviolette and in the early going of the team’s first game since the All-Star break, “The People’s Line” put the host Caps to an early lead.

In the final three minutes of the first period, Hathaway put the Capitals ahead 1-0, with assists from Dowd and Hagelin. The goal marked Hathaway’s eighth of the season, and continues his career-high Points per Game pace.

Garnet Hathaway gives the Caps a 1-0 lead with his eighth goal of the season. With 15 points (8g, 7a) in 43 games, Hathaway is averaging the highest points per game rate of his career this season (0.35 points per game).

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) February 9, 2022

GARcrashtheNET HATHAWAY!! pic.twitter.com/cTPXZLOinn

— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) February 9, 2022

The assists by Dowd and Hagelin moved each closer to 100 and 300 career points, respectively.

The line’s hard-nosed play paid off early in the second frame when Dowd put home his seventh goal of the season on a lucky bounce to give the Caps a 2-0 lead, on assists from defenseman Martin Fehervary and Hagelin.

GARcrashtheNET HATHAWAY!! pic.twitter.com/cTPXZLOinn

— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) February 9, 2022

The goal marked Dowd’s third multi-point of the 2021-22 regular season and the sixth occasion in which the Caps have scored in the opening minute of a period. Hagelin’s second assist of the game marked his second multi-point contest of the season. Dowd’s play earned him a contract extension earlier in the season.

Again! https://t.co/F3Yb4nxzQo

— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) February 9, 2022

By Michael Fleetwood