The teams play different styles, but in the end they are both hard working teams, and either team that moved on would give their 2nd round playoff opponent fits.  Ovechkin needs to step up in the potential last game of the season for the Capitals and lead his team to victory.  He has been to quiet so far in this 1st round playoff series.  The game today is already under way and nearing the end of the 1st period with the Capitals up 1-0 on a Backstrom goal.

The Capitals ended up winning the Southeast Division with 94 points, beating out the Carolina Hurricanes who had 92 points.  The Capitals were led all season by Alex Ovechkin, who ended the season with 65 goals and 112 points, which will likely stand up as the NHL’s best this season.  The Capitals will either be playing the Flyers or the Senators in the 1st round of the playoffs.  The Capitals were 4-0 against the Senators this season and they were 2-2 against the Flyers.  The Capitals will know their 1st round opponent tomorrow after the Flyers play the Penguins.

Ovechkin currently leads the NHL in goals and points and has his team in the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.  Ovechkin has been incredible this season, and I believe that Ovechkin will break his own record for most goals in a season by a left winger again before his bright career is over.

Alexander Ovechkin scored a hat trick in the first period against the Boston Bruins in a 10-2 rout.  Ovechkin scored his 50th, 51st, and 52nd goals of the year in the victory.  Ovechkin is the first player this year to score 50 goals.

Alexander Ovechkin also had 2 assists in his addition to his 3 goals on the night.  Nicklas Backstrom had a goal and 3 assists on the night for the Capitals as well.  In the game, the Capitals scored 6 in the first period, led 8-2 after the 2nd, before winning 10-2.  Huet left the game after the 2nd due to mild back spasms.

The other newcomer on the Capitals, Sergei Fedorov made an incredible no-look pass on Mike Green’s goal.  With less than 20 games to go in the season, the Capitals are poised to move up the standings and establish themselves as a team that needs to be watched.

He is the leader of a mediocre team and when he plays, he makes them a respectable team.  Kozlov said, “The way Ovie scored the goals today, he’s pretty amazing,” linemate Kozlov said. “Alex’s game is excellent, excellent. Hitting people, passing, scoring. I don’t know what else forwards could do.”

Picture source:  tsn.ca