Caps win again!

Another great game.  This time against a very tough Montreal team played in Canada.  Caps owned the first part of the first period and just dominated.  They are starting to look really good.  This team may not be as talented as the teams a few years back but this looks to be the better team.  Guys really seem to have picked up on Oates' system and are thriving on it.  There seems to be a good mutual trust between the players and coaches and it all seems to be clicking. 

The Caps are the hottest team in hockey and Ovi is the hottest player.  The puck keeps going in for Alex Ovechkin.  The league's co-leader in goals finished a spectacular play with a tricky shot that fooled Montreal goalie Carey Price on Tuesday as the Washington Capitals beat the Canadiens 3-2 to extend their winning string to five games.

The Capitals are a perfect 5-0-0 in April and Ovechkin has eight goals in that span. The center on his line, Nicklas Backstrom, picked up two assists and has 11 points, all helpers, in the same five games.

Ovechkin said getting the win was bigger than the goal he scored to tie the game at 1 in the second period. It helped the Capitals stay two points ahead of Winnipeg atop the Southeast Division, with a game in hand.
"It's big two points for us right now," said the two-time Hart Trophy winner, whose level of play looks to be back near its peak after dipping the last two seasons. "We beat a team in front of us (in the standings).
"We know we can play against good teams. If we play hard and play our system it gives us results."

Eric Fehr and Jack Hillen also scored for Washington, which is 6-0-1 in its last seven.

Ovechkin's 26th of the season left him tied for the league lead with Steven Stamkos, who got the winner in Tampa Bay's 3-2 victory over Ottawa.

When told Stamkos had scored, Ovechkin said "good for him."  LOVE IT!  Ovi doesn't seem to care what anyone else is doing only that he does his job.  For the first time, I do feel like he is maturing and doing what the coach is telling him to do and trusting Oates in that he has his best interests in mind.  Ovi is starting to really thrive on the right wing and he is doing well camping out in front of the net.  He is a big boy with offensive skills and will command extra attention in front of the net thus freeing up other guys to get better shots. 

I just feel like this team has a confidence building as opposed to cockiness and recognizes the opportunity at hand whereas before I think they took winning and playoffs for granted.  Hopefully they can keep this up and get healthy as I don't think anyone will look forward to playing the Caps in the playoffs.