Hats Off to Ovi, Again!

It's good to have the NHL MVP on your team. Really, really good.

Sunday's game against the Panthers looked quite different from Saturday's game against the Lightning. The Caps had less energy (understandable, given there were only 19 hours between the end of one road game and the start of the next). They also took a ton of penalties -- eight minors. Even so, the Caps held on for three periods to come away with a win.

The story of the game, as it is in so many, is Alex Ovechkin. He scored two goals on Tomas Vokoun and one empty-netter to record his eight career hat trick, and his second in two weeks. Fans could see his determination building throughout the game as he took eight shots on goal, scoring one in the first and two in the third. The team needed him to come through in this game, and he came through in a big way.

Mike Green's consecutive game goal streak ended on Sunday, but Eric Fehr's continues: he scored his fourth consecutive, and his sixth in seven games. Nicklas Backstrom had another two-point game, as he had assists on two of Ovi's goals.

The Caps are 13 points ahead of Florida in the Southeast Division.

The Boys in Red will enjoy a day off today with their fathers before getting back to business in DC. Their next game is at home on Wednesday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m. against the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal has lost five of its last six games, and 10 of the last 13.