Washington goes for 11th straight victory
Ten current Capitals were not even born the last time the organization won 10 games in a row.
“I wasn’t even planned,” joked star forward Alex Ovechkin.
It’s been 26 years since Washington had a hockey team this hot. On Tuesday night, that old mark could fall for good as the Caps go for a record 11 wins in a row when they travel to Boston to play the struggling Bruins.
The players are enjoying the streak. But making history takes a back seat to a deep playoff run this spring. What happens now will have little to do with what happens when the games really matter.
“If you allow yourself to get caught up in it or think about it too much you’re in trouble,” said Caps center Brendan Morrison. “Don’t worry about a winning streak. Worry about preparing. Worry about playing consistent, which we’ve been doing pretty well almost every game. The big thing is taking care of the details.”
Washington is 37-12-6 overall with 80 standings points. It had an eight-point lead in the Eastern Conference heading into play Monday night and had outscored the opposition, 47-21, during the 10-game winning streak. Coach Bruce Boudreau has implored his players to look at how they’re playing and not necessarily the final result. The seeds of any losing streak, after all, start when a team gets away from what makes it successful.
“I didn’t think the last two game [against Florida and Tampa Bay] were our best games,” Boudreau said. “But you’re not going to score five goals every game and allow one goal every game. The NHL is just too good. But we found a way to win and the guys are finding out they really like to win.”
In Boston, the Caps face a team in turmoil. The Bruins have lost seven games in a row overall and six in a row at home — the first time that’s happened since 1924-25. Even that “home” win came at Fenway Park during the NHL’s Winter Classic on Jan. 1.
