Today, both Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom were named to the NHL’s ‘Three Stars of the Week’ for last week. Is it really any wonder?
In four games, Ovi registered 6 goals and 4 assists for 10 points. The Great 8 now has a ridiculous 36 points in his last 17 games. His last performance of the week was probably his best, as he out-dueled the Pens’ Sid The Kid by scoring a hat trick and bringing his team back from a 3-goal deficit. He was given the first star for the week.
It seems like just last week that Ovechkin trailed Henrik Sedin in the NHL’s scoring race, but he currently stands alone, and with a little distance between him and the pack. Ovi now has 86 points – 42 goals (1st) and 44 assists (6th), and is eight points clear of Sedin.
Nick Backstrom wasn’t too bad himself last week, and picked up the third star. He equaled Ovechkin’s 10 points with 2 goals and 8 assists. He now has 73 points and moved into a tie with Joe Thornton for fourth in league scoring. He is well on his way to his first 100-point season.
As impressive as the points totals for the two Caps scoring aces are, it’s equally telling that they are two of the league’s top three plus-minuses. Ovi has a stunning plus-42 (1st), and Backstrom has a plus-32(3rd). You know what else is impressive? The guy that holds the number two spot in plus-minus is also a Capital! Jeff Schultz is second overall with a plus-37, giving the Caps the top three slots in the category and the ONLY three NHL players that are above plus-30.
The Caps have now extended their franchise record win streak to 14 games. They are just three shy of the NHL record set by the 1992/1993 Pittsburgh Penguins, and as luck would have it, Washington has 3 games this week before the Olympic break. It will be tough-sledding as all three games are on the road – Canadiens on Wednesday, Senators on Thursday, and the Blues on Saturday.
Will the Caps Rock the Red all the way to an NHL record? Keep tuning in to find out.