The Alex Ovechkin show gets Caps 4 points

The Capitals played the Stanley Cup defending Detroit Red Wings on Saturday afternoon at 12:30 followed by the Ottawa Senators on Sunday afternoon at 12:30.  I really don't like these early start games as I'd prefer to drink beer than coffee while I watch hockey.  Oh, well, the early starts ended with the Caps winning both games and Alex Ovechkin had 2 goals against Detroit followed by a hat trick against Ottawa.

Against the Red Wings, Ovechkin didn't start off strong, but he ended the game with his 32nd and 33rd goals of the season almost 13 minutes into the 3rd period to open up a tight game.  I'm sure his 32nd goal will make the NHL goals of the week as I can't believe he got the shot off much less into the net.  

It was one of those games that I get nervous watching as the two teams traded goals at the very end of the 1st and the 2nd period to keep the game tied.  And, I didn't enjoy the Red Wing fan sitting in front of me because she was obnoxious.  At least, there weren't as many Red Wings fans as usual.  And Caps fans were loud.  

Other thoughts:

• Tom Poti's steadying influence on the blue line is a necessary ingredient for the Caps to continue to be successful.  Poti's ability to make short, crisp passes that don't get taken away by the opponent is something the rest of the Caps should try to emulate more.  Their cross ice and just plain stupid passes that end in giveaways are driving me insane.  The downside to Poti being back is that Karl Alzner got sent back to Hershey, but he will back.
• Alexander Semin's costly hooking penalty in the neutral zone (why, why, why did you do it Semin?) resulted in Detroit's 2nd goal. Semin is such a talented player, but he's an equally frustrating ones at times. 
• Eric Fehr played one of his best games of this season even though he still didn't record a goal.  I liked the Nicklas Backstrom, Tomas Fleischmann and Fehr line.  They exhibited good chemistry playing together. 
• Jose Theodore has found his game in net and I can only hope it continues.  He faced 29 shots and only let in 2.
• The insanity of that 6 on 3 in the last 1:30 of the game was ridiculous.  Poti blocked 3 shots and Jeff Schultz and David Steckel each blocked 1 shot.  And, is that delay of game for a non intentional puck over the glass a ridiculous penalty or what?  Ugh.

The second half of the Alex Ovechkin show featured a 7-4 win over the Ottawa Senators and Ovie's hat trick. After Daniel Alfredsson scored the first goal early in the first period, the Caps scored 4 unanswered goals by early in the 2nd period courtesy of Mike Green and Alex Ovechkin on the power play and Eric Fehr and Ovie at even strength.  Ovie scored that even strength goal and his 3rd goal by making Senators defender Filip Kuba look silly.  Twice Ovie used him as a shield and shot the puck between Kuba's legs to score.  

Other thoughts:

• Mike Green's pass over the head of the Ottawa defenders that landed on Alexander Semin's stick was awesome.  Semin promptly put it into the net with a deft move around goalie Alex Auld.  It was nice to see Semin score again after the awful game he had against the Red Wings.  Green had a 4 point day.
• Eric Fehr got his goal today by hustling and crashing the net.  That Flash/Backstrom/Fehr line looks good together.  
• Nicklas Backstrom had a 3 point day and his empty net goal was a coast to coast attempt that sealed the win.
• Sergei Fedorov assisted on all of Ovie's goals and looked a more on his game than he did on Saturday.
• I really hate it when the Caps ease up after getting a big lead.  The third period became a little dicey in this game as the Senators rallied to within two goals with almost 9 minutes left in the 3rd.  

All in all, a satisfying 4 point weekend with Alex Ovechkin lighting the lamp often and with flair. I really do pinch myself quite often that Alex is a Capital.  As a long suffering Caps fan, it's awesome to be able to watch him do his stuff.

The Caps visit the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.  The Devils are 1 point behind the Caps in the Eastern conference with 1 game in hand so it's an important one for the Eastern conference standings.

Let's go Caps!