Fresh off of their fifth win in six games, the Washington Capitals have now firmly entrenched themselves in the Eastern Conference playoff picture at the important American Thanksgiving mark on the NHL’s regular season calendar.
Washington’s 4-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday night brought their record to 13-9-2, good for third place in the Metropolitan Division and just three points back of the New Jersey Devils for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
After starting the month of November in the midst of a four-game slide, the Capitals have kicked things into gear in recent weeks with important wins over some of the top teams in the East as the playoff race gets even more crowded heading into December.
“The mood is definitely a little lighter around the rink, and around the room, when you’re in a playoff spot,” said forward Dylan Strome in an appearance on TSN1050’s First Up Thursday morning.
“At the same time, not even a week ago where we were 13th, 14th in the conference. You go on a two or three-game winning streak and all of a sudden, you’re right in a playoff spot. It definitely feels like every game means a lot when the standing are that tight…pretty much every team is in the mix.”
The Eastern Conference has been as tight as it gets through the first two months of the season with 10 of the 16 teams all being separated by just two points.
Washington’s recent hot streak directly coincides with an uptick in scoring from captain Alexander Ovechkin, who’s potted nine goals across 13 games in November.
The NHL’s all-time goal scoring leader found the back of the net just three times in 15 contests to open the season, but has turned it on of late with eight goals and 12 points in nine games since Nov 11.
Despite the slow start, Ovechkin’s recent surge came as no surprise to his linemate Strome.
“I think I’m more surprised that people seem to write him off when he only has three goals through the first 15 games, because you look at the stat sheet a week later and he has 11 goals now.”
Prior to puck drop on Wednesday night, Ovechkin was honoured in front of the Washington faithful for reaching the 900-goal, 1,500-game milestone.
“Nothing surprises anyone on this team, and in this city, with what he does. It’s on a nightly basis … we’re not surprised by it. Like I said, I’m only surprised that people think he’s not going to find a way to get 25, 30, 35 goals every year.”
Similarly to Ovechkin, Washington has been buoyed in November by the play of defenceman Jakob Chychrun, who is currently on a nine-game point streak.
Chychrun leads all Eastern Conference blueliners with 22 points on the year, including 15 in November in his first season of an eight-year, $72 million extension with the team.
“He’s got an unbelievable shot, he’s walks the blueline like no other [defenceman], maybe besides Makar, in the league,” Strome said of his new teammate. “Even his defensive game is incredible. He’s so strong on his skates, he’s got a great stick.
“He can just make things happen at all times and it’s a lot of fun to be on the ice with him. He has all the tools and he got rewarded with a big contract that he very well deserved.”
Strome, Ovechkin, and Chychrun look to keep rolling against the Toronto Maple Leafs as they return from the Thanksgiving break, before heading out west for a four-game road trip.