Capitals 2 - 5 Sharks
Final
  for this game

Ovechkin, Caps try to stay hot in San Jose

Jan 7, 2012 - 4:40 PM (Sports Network) - The Washington Capitals will try to continue their longest winning streak since the start of the season, as they visit the first- place San Jose Sharks for tonight's interconference clash at HP Pavilion.

The Capitals have won their last four games, marking the first time the club has won more than two in a row since its season-opening seven-game winning streak.

The recent surge has Washington on the verge of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference, as the Caps are one point behind Toronto for the East's eighth and final postseason berth. The Capitals, who have won the last four Southeast Division titles, are now also just four points behind Florida for first place in the division.

San Jose, meanwhile, enters tonight on a three-game winning streak and the club is 7-1-1 over its last nine tilts. With 48 points, the Sharks are leading the Pacific Division by one point over Los Angeles.

The Sharks have also dominated the series with Washington for over a decade now, as San Jose has won 14 of the last 15 meetings between the clubs. Washington is 0-10 with a tie in 11 trips to San Jose since last winning there on Oct. 30, 1993.

It's not a surprise that Washington's recent hot streak has also coincided with an offensive tear by star winger Alex Ovechkin, who has seven goals and four assists during a seven-game point streak. The Capitals have posted a 5-1-1 record over Ovechkin's point streak and No. 8's one-goal, one-assist performance helped Washington to a 3-1 win Tuesday against visiting Calgary.

Ovechkin had been held without a multi-point game for almost two months, but has recorded two points in each of the last four games. The two-time Hart Trophy winner now has 17 goals and 16 assists in 38 games this season.

Tomas Vokoun turned aside 18 shots in Tuesday's win, while Dennis Wideman and Troy Brouwer joined Ovechkin in notching goals for the Capitals.

"We've been moving puck really well lately, especially on the power play," said Washington head coach Dale Hunter. "We're starting to get some things going here and we'll continue to improve."

Hunter is 9-6-1 since taking over in late November for the fired Bruce Boudreau.

Nicklas Backstrom had three assists for Washington on Tuesday before leaving the game with a head injury. The centerman has been practicing with the team and is expected to play tonight. Forward Alexander Semin is questionable for tonight after sitting out the last game with a neck injury.

The Capitals kick off a two-game road trip tonight and will also visit Los Angeles on Monday. The Caps are just 7-10-1 on the road this year compared to a 14-5-1 record at home.

San Jose last played on Thursday when it notched a third straight win with a 2-1 decision against visiting Columbus. Joe Thornton scored the go-ahead goal in the second period and Thomas Greiss made 23 saves to help lead the Sharks to victory.

Ryane Clowe also scored for San Jose, tying the game in the first period after Columbus had taken an early lead. Greiss, playing in his ninth game of the season, made 14 saves over the last two periods to shut the Blue Jackets down.

"We wanted to get that third (goal)," said Thornton, "but their goaltender played really good tonight."

San Jose is 6-1-1 in its last eight home games and has a 13-7-2 mark at the Shark Tank this season.






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