Written by Stephen Whyno at YahooSports.com
Capitals coach Barry Trotz thinks his team is tough for anyone to handle when all its lines are clicking.
It’s a pretty easy case to make right now.
Washington got contributions up and down the lineup and put up another 5-spot in thumping the Carolina Hurricanes 5-0 on Tuesday night for their fourth consecutive win. Washington has won 10 in a row at home and scored five-plus goals in the last nine of those games, with the offense coming from just about everywhere.
Alex Ovechkin scored his 26th goal of the season, Brett Connolly his 11th, Lars Eller his 10th, Evgeny Kuznetsov his 12th and Marcus Johansson his 17th as the Capitals gave Carolina goaltender Eddie Lack a rude welcome back in his first start since Nov. 6. Washington became the first team to put up five-plus goals in nine straight home games since the Calgary Flames in 1990.
Braden Holtby made 23 saves to give Washington back-to-back shutouts, keeping the Caps riding high atop the NHL.
”We’ve got it going right now,” said defenseman Matt Niskanen, who had two assists. ”Guys are feeling it. Scoring up and down the lineup. Goalies have been good. Lot of things to like.”
What’s not to like? Ovechkin is four goals back of Sidney Crosby for the league lead, and Holtby’s seventh shutout tied him with Peter Budaj of the Kings for the most this season. Philipp Grubauer needed 38 saves to shut out Los Angeles on Sunday, but team defense has been sharp of late, too.
The power play scored twice and the penalty kill was a perfect 3 for 3 Tuesday as a lazy, imperfect showing looked like another dominant blowout on the score sheet.
”We didn’t play maybe like it says on the sheet,” Johansson said. ”Sometimes you’re not on your game and you have to find ways to win anyways, and I think we did that.”
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