Despite being scratched and missing games due to injury, Brett Connolly is about to reach the double digit mark in goals for the second straight season.

Connolly scored late in the first period to give the Caps a 1-0 lead.

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Successful tip. Successful fist bump 👊 @bconnolly8 #CapsBlues #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/N3RteVXrFN

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 7, 2018

During a first period power play, Connolly somehow got his stick on a shot going wide from Alex Ovechkin and deflected the puck past Carter Hutton.

It was Connolly’s ninth goal of the season.

And, you guys, he didn’t forget to fist bump his teammates on the bench this time.

Before puck drop, Evgeny Kuznetsov made a funny face at Connolly. Clearly this was the good luck Conno needed.

During an intermission interview with Al Koken, the veteran of 309 NHL games revealed that Ovechkin usually aims high over a goalie’s glove on his PP one timers.

Brett Connolly on his goal: "O made a good shot and I was fortunate enough to get a stick on it and it goes in. We've been working hard in practice to get our power play going the way it should be and hopefully that helps." pic.twitter.com/22ooeKahYs

— Ian Oland (@ianoland) January 7, 2018

Connolly on why he was able to connect on the midair deflection: "I know O was going to shoot high. He's going to try and put it over the goalie's glove. That's where he likes to put it."

— Ian Oland (@ianoland) January 7, 2018

This continues a production stretch for Connolly. During the month of December, the Caps third-line forward tied Alex Ovechkin for the team lead in goals during the month of December (6). Connolly has seven goals in his last 16 games.

Full RMNB Coverage of Caps vs Blues