
When stay-at-home defenseman Karl Alzner finds himself up on the rush, he looks and finds friend and defensive partner John Carlson right there with him.

Alex Ovechkin scored one of three straight goals by Washington in the third period to lead the Capitals to a 5-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night.

As homecomings go, Dale Hunter's debut as the Washington Capitals' coach was an understated affair.

The problems that are plaguing the Washington Capitals may be more than talent-deep. They may be more than coach-deep. They may be more than performance-deep.

Alex Ovechkin flashed down the left wing and fired a scorching shot right over Henrik Lundqvist's shoulder. Vintage Ovechkin to be sure, but with the Capitals trailing by two goals to the New York Rangers in the third period it came too little too late.

The Capitals were happy to snap a four-game skid. Happy enough to play the victory music, happy enough to have some smiles.

Mathieu Perreault remembers the 2009 Calder Cup-clincher well — maybe not for the right reason.

It was an atmosphere out of a fairy tale. The Winnipeg Jets were back, playing their first NHL game at MTS Centre since transforming from the Atlanta Thrashers.

Mike Green can't seem to catch a break. Just a bit over seven minutes of ice time into his return to the Capitals' lineup Friday, the All-Star defenseman got hurt again.