Caps escape Atlanta and Ovie gets 60

The score was 5-3, but it was an escape. 4 goals in the final 8 minutes and 30 second of the game means the Caps played lousy hockey for 2 1/2 periods. The Caps are quite lucky, actually, to have 4 points on this road trip so far. They have played some lousy hockey the last 3 games. I can only hope that burst of offense in the 3rd period against Atlanta and the fact that every member of the team stood up during the last two minutes of the games means that the Caps aren't ready to go down yet.

We shall see. An even bigger test against the team that doesn't want to lose lately, the Carolina Hurricanes, awaits tomorrow night.

Meantime, $124m man netted his 60th goal, the first time that feat has happened in 12-years, since Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr did it with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Congrats Alex Oveckin! Ovie is more focused on helping the Caps squeeze into the playoffs than his goals total and that is another reason I'm so happy he's a Cap. That is more important.

So, the 'is Ovie Hart Trophy Worthy' debate rages on in the sports media. To me, he's the winner hands down (and, yes, I know I'm biased) but many people say the Caps must make the playoffs for him to be considered. The Caps would have been out of the playoff race a long time ago without Ovie. Of course, if the Caps make the playoffs, this argument is over.

Nicklas Backstrom turned it on with 2 goals and 1 assist, making him only the 2nd Capital rookie (gee, wonder who's first) to get 50 assists.

Come on Caps, throw the kitchen sink against Carolina.

Let's go Caps!