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Ovechkin continues to lead Capitals' playoff push

Mar 27, 2008 - 1:02 PM Washington (38-31-8) at Tampa Bay (30-38-8) 7:30 pm EDT

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) - Alex Ovechkin is enjoying every minute of his MVP-like season, but he would likely trade it all for his first taste of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Capitals continue the quest for their first playoff appearance since 2003 when they host the woeful Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday.

Washington, which has won two straight, moved to within two points of Boston (38-28-10) for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a 3-2 shootout win over Carolina on Tuesday.

The Capitals are also within four points of the Hurricanes (41-30-6) for first place in the Southeast Division.

The clear front-runner for the Hart Trophy, Ovechkin tallied in regulation and Viktor Kozlov netted the game-winner in the bonus format on Tuesday. Ovechkin's goal was his 61st of the season - a new franchise mark.

"It's fun to score goals, especially when you break some records," Ovechkin said. "But right now the situation, the record is the record. It's all about winning, it's all about team."

The supremely talented sniper was the first overall pick of the 2004 draft, one year after the Capitals' last playoff appearance.

He is certainly doing his best to get them back there and is a big reason Washington has scored eight times in its last two games. The 22-year-old Russian has three goals and two assists in that span.

The Lightning, last in the Eastern Conference with 68 points, posted a 3-1 win over Florida on Tuesday.