Alex Ovechkin (#8) turns and skates away as the buzzer sounds and the Canadiens realize they’ve advanced to the next round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Montreal topped the Washington Capitals 2-1 in game seven. (Photos by Kate McGovern / OffWingPhoto)

Nicklas Backstrom fights for the puck in tonight’s game against the Calgary Flames. The Washington Capitals lost 5-3. (Kate McGovern/Off Wing Photo)

WASHINGTON D.C. (October 27) – They got mad, they got even, and they doubled up.

The last thing on the agenda Tuesday night was the Olympics, yet this game provided an enticing preview of the future matchup featuring Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin and Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger.

Both teams stormed the ice and by the end of the first period had combined for 21 shots on goal, but solid goaltending from Capitals Jose Theodore and Flyers Ray Emery kept the score at nil.

Washington Capitals goaltender Jose Theodore (#60) gets low to protect the net, scoring 41 saves against the Philadelphia Flyers. (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)

Flyers goaltender Ray Emery (#29) controls the puck against a furious first period Capitals offense. (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)

In the second, Philadelphia’s physical play started to wear on the Capitals attack.  The Flyers Scott Hartnell scored on a power play at 3:06.  Philadelphia successfully stymied two Capitals power plays, including a 2-man advantage lasting over 90 seconds.  Philadelphia poured it on with a second power play goal from a Braydon Coburn slapshot, and threatened to bring an abrupt end to the Capitals four-game winning streak.

The red sweaters were down 2-0, but they weren’t out.  “We got a little bit angry, it was good for us,” said Nicklas Backstrom, Capitals forward.  Late in the second period, Alex Ovechkin found the net, bringing life to the team and the crowd.  Two minutes later, Backstrom capitalized on a power play to tie the game 2-2.

Alex Ovechkin (#8) celebrates with teammate Alexander Semin (#28). (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)

Despite 21 shots on net, the third period was all Washington.  Jose Theodore held his ground, amassing 41 saves.  Capitals Head Coach Bruce Boudreau tipped his hat to Jose’s performance, saying “Theo kept us in the game..he was really solid.”

Jose Theodore (#60) defends the net behind forward Scott Hartnell (#19) to hold the Capitals lead and defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2. (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)

At 5:24 of the third, Alexander Semin beat Emery from the top of the zone with a shot that deflected off Flyers’ defenseman Kimmo Timonen.  It was Semin’s seventh goal of the season, putting the Capitals on top 3-2.

Ovechkin scored the final blow with an open net goal at 19:14 to seal the win at 4-2; it was Ovechkin’s eleventh goal of the season.  Nicklas Backstrom scored four points with one goal and three assists.

Click below for a slideshow of images from Tuesday night’s game and more from OffWing Photo.

WASHINGTON D.C. (October 15) — The Washington Capitals made a statement Thursday night, ending a 4-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks.

Washington Capitals goalie Jose Theodore (#6o) allows only one goal by Sharks’ foward Benn Ferriero (#78).  Theodore was replaced with 3rd year goalie Semyon Varlamov after experiencing back spasms.  Theodore is expected to return with no persistant injuries. (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)

Goals from Matt Bradley and Alexander Semin (his sixth of the season, tied for second in the NHL) combined with two from NHL goal leader Alexander Ovechkin completed the offensive assault. The win ended the Sharks’ 11-game win streak against the Capitals, which included 6 consecutive road wins dating back to February 1999.

San Jose Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov (#20) deflects a wrist shot to hold a 1-1 tie with the Washington Capitals at the end of the first period. (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)

Following a strong playoff performance last season, the young Capitals team exhibited strong discipline by staying out of the penalty box, while leaving San Jose short-handed for over 8 minutes in the first period, which included two 5-on-3 power plays. 

Alexander Ovechkin (#8) celebrates his second goal in 28 seconds to extend the Washington Capitals second period lead to 3-1 over the San Jose Sharks.  (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)

Alexander Ovechkin (#8) adds two to his NHL-leading goal total with two scores against San Jose in the second period.  The Capitals go on to win the game 4-1. (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)

Breaking a 1-1 tie in the second period, Ovechkin found the net twice in 28 seconds, exploiting the exhausted Sharks’ defensemen and scoring his first and second goals against San Jose in his career. Both goals were assisted by Mike Knuble and Brendan Morrison.

San Jose forward Steven Zalewski (#48) gives chase to Capitals defenseman Jeff Schultz (#55) in the third period at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)

Click below for a slideshow of images from Thursday night’s game and more from OffWing Photo.