They battled for nearly seven weeks to escape the Eastern Conference basement. But the shocking way the Capitals have finally leapt in the standings gives renewed hope that the season is far from over.
Defenseman Mike Green scored a pair of goals and added an assist to help the Caps shake off a two-goal deficit in the first 4 minutes, 56 seconds of a 6-3 victory over Ottawa at Verizon Center on Tuesday.
The Caps (16-19-5, 37 points) swept the first-place Senators (25-10-4) in a home-and-home series that began Saturday. The Caps are still in 14th place in the conference. But the win leaves them just five points out of the eighth and final playoff spot — an unlikely position after a 6-14-1 start.
“I think we’re starting to believe,” said Caps goaltender Olie Kolzig, who made 31 saves. “We played a little tentative in the third period [on Saturday] in Ottawa. We happened to be in the same situation in the third period again tonight up 5-2. But we still did a terrific job and kept them in check.”
The Caps won a shootout on Saturday in Ottawa, 8-6. The second contest had the same feel with six goals in the first period. After the Senators took a quick 2-0 lead on goals by Chris Neil and Dean McAmmond the Caps answered. Forwards Viktor Kozlov, Michael Nylander and Green all scored less than three minutes after McAmmond’s goal to give the Caps the lead for good.
Green’s second goal — a one-timer on a 5-on-3 power play in the first minute of the second period — made it 5-2 and put the Caps in control.
“We have to give ourselves some credit,” said Green. “We’ve beaten [Ottawa] two times in a row now and they’re a very good hockey club. The stats show it.”
Battle of the Capitals
» The Caps have now beaten Ottawa three times. The Senators have the most points of any team in the Eastern Conference (54).
» Forward Alex Ovechkin, fresh off a four-goal effort Saturday vs. the Senators, totaled two assists on Tuesday.
» The Caps played shorthanded much of the game. F Alex Semin (tailbone) didn’t play after the first period and D Tom Poti (upper-body injury) left early in the second. Both players are listed day-to-day.
