It’s the Washington Capitals’ world, and we’re just living in it. Or so it may seem. Not only were they amongst the first teams to seal their spot in the playoffs, but they also stand as one of the most formidable teams in the Eastern Conference with their 109 points. And then there’s the Ovechkin factor, which gives the team the most unique edge. So, it comes as no surprise to see the Capitals win yet again, this time in a dramatic 5-4 shootout win against the Carolina Hurricanes at Capital One Arena, earning them the top seed in the Eastern Conference. This match also took place following a ceremony that was completely focused on captain Alex Ovechkin.

As most of us know by now, Ovechkin is now the league leader for career goals, an achievement that deserves all the celebratory pomp and circumstance. But let’s not forget that in between the celebrations, there’s hockey to be played. So back to the game.  Pierre-Luc Dubois played a crucial role, finding the back of the net first and sealing the victory with a key shootout goal. Washington saw contributions from Tom Wilson, Dylan Strome, and Nic Dowd, each netting goals, with Alex Ovechkin also providing an assist.

Triumph for the Capitals was far from straightforward. As the home crowd focused intently on the team, Washington faced the challenge head-on in the first period, as they were outscored by the Canes. Coach Spencer Carbery, however, was open about his feelings on the second-period comeback, saying, “Yeah, that’s as good a period as we’ve had in a while since I can remember. So that was good. Gets us back in the game. The power-play goal in the first was huge because we were searching for it a bit. We started to play a little bit better at the end, but we needed something to get that game tightened up, and that goal to get it to 2-1 was a big moment in the game.”

Carbery was nothing but honest about how effectively the Capitals can manage in such intense games, with the playoffs arriving in a few weeks. Inside the Capital One Arena, the home team appeared to face challenges during the opening moments of the first period. Dubois’ opening goal provided his team with the crucial momentum they required. Carbery emphasized the significance of this goal, noting the Capitals’ overwhelming control during the second period. In the third period, the dynamics of the game shifted dramatically as the Canes seized control, pushing the match into overtime.

And then this intense battle culminated in a shootout, where the Caps emerged on top. This victory secured the Capitals as the top seed in the Eastern Conference. And also showcased that the team has the scoring capability to make such tough comebacks. If things continue on this trajectory, they may in fact encounter a challenging opponent that’s been the talk of the town of late.

Potential matchup between the Alex Ovechkin-led Capitals and the Habs

The Eastern Conference is witnessing not only the Washington Capitals’ dominance but also a notable resurgence from the Montreal Canadiens. They have recently made a strong push for playoff contention, riding a six-game winning streak that includes impressive victories over the Detroit Red Wings and Florida Panthers.

On April 8, in a decisive 4-1 victory over Detroit, Josh Anderson scored the game-winning goal, while Sam Montembeault showcased his skills with 35 saves, reinforcing Montreal’s position in the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot.

Recently, the Canadiens mounted a comeback with three goals in the third period to narrowly defeat the Flyers 3-2, as Nick Suzuki continued his impressive run with a fourth consecutive multi-point game.

However, the streak has now reached six, and Habs fans are positively buzzing. How can they not be? Suzuki is on fire, Lane Hutson is excelling and the team just look plain good. The current winning streak has elevated Montreal to a 39-30-9 record, establishing a commanding lead over their competition like the Rangers and Blue Jackets.

Can the Habs ride this wave of momentum to make a deep run in the playoffs? Well, it’ll all come down to whether they can overwhelm a formidable Capitals team who are riding their very own wave of momentum after Alex Ovechkin completed his impossible quest.