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Ovechkin, Capitals look for third straight win

Dec 12, 2007 - 2:35 PM NY Rangers (16-12-2) at Washington (11-17-2) 7:00 pm EST

WASHINGTON (Ticker) - All of a sudden, a meeting with the Washington Capitals doesn't look like such an easy win anymore.

Alex Ovechkin tries to lead the Capitals to their third consecutive victory when they host New York Rangers on Wednesday.

After going a miserable 3-10-2 over the month of November, Washington won three of its first four games to start December. Ovechkin has been a major reason for the turn around, compiling four goals and nine points over his five-game point streak.

The 20-year-old rookie Niklas Backstrom is also starting to turn it around, notching two goals and three assists over the past three contests. He has three goals and 18 points on the season.

Henrik Lundqvist continued his stellar campaign, making 17 saves and logging his fifth shutout of the season as the Rangers ended a three-game losing skid with a 1-0 overtime triumph over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday.

Lundqvist is 15-11-1 with a 1.79 goals-against average and .925 save percentage this season, anchoring the league's best defensive team. New York has yielded an NHL-low 65 goals.

The Rangers are also surrendering a conference-best 26.2 shots per game.