Morning Skate: Caps

Well, how do you follow a game against the top team in the Western Conference? With a game against the top team in the Eastern Conference of course! Detroit heads to the nation's capital tonight for a big game following two shootouot losses over the weekend.

• The Chicago-Detroit game was one of the best regular season games I've ever watched. I've refrained from really doing a post about that game because I was just wiped out from the weekend and the week before. But it was indeed, one of the best games I've ever watched two teams play. The overtime was so intense that my hands were shaking as I watched. If the Wings play like that the rest of the year (which I don't really expect) then they will be in great shape.
• How can you not love Patrick Eaves after that last game? Granted, Kris Versteeg isn't exactly Tie Domi in the fight department but Eaves dropped the gloves and hung in there (see after the jump) and landed some good punches of his own. In addition to the fight, Eaves scored a goal (although nobody watching on NBC got to see it live) and fought hard in the corners all game. He may have found a home in Detroit and I sure hope so. 
• Last time these two teams met, waaaaaaaaay back on October 10, Detroit won 3-2 with goals from Ville Leino (what?), Jason Williams (who?), and Tomas Holmstrom. Chris Osgood got the W and Jose Theodore with the loss. It was the game after the Wing lost Johan Franzen to injury, that seems like a decade ago. This has been the longest half season I can remember.
• Washington has an incredible offense. Scoring from top to bottom of the forwards and then the defenders have quite a few goals themselves. The Detroit defense has to be on top of its game again to keep the offense in this one. 9 players with 10+ goals and two 20+ goal scorers, that's some scoring depth.
• Dan Cleary is a quiet difference maker. Cleary is working great in the defensive and neutral zone pressuring puck carriers. He doesn't have the takeaway numbers to show for it but definitely puts enough pressure on to move the puck
• Time for a little Ovie lovin'. In my humble opinion, Alex Ovechkin is the best player on the planet. He is exceptional at every aspect of the game, and I mean every. He's only two back in goals for top in the League from Patrick Marleau (with 9 fewer games--injury, suspension). He's top 10 in the league in assists, a healthy 54% in the face-off circle, a league leading +28, produces turnovers, and oh--he hits everything that moves. The only thing is faulted for it seems is having questionable hits at times but otherwise, he is the best player in the NHL.
• Last 10 games: Washington is 6-4 in it's last 10 games while Detroit is 5-2-3. Not bad by the Wings, especially since they could very easily be 7-2-1. 
• Caps top scorer: Alex Ovechkin with 30 goals and 34 assists. Woah. Ovie has more goals than the top two Wings scorers. 
• Japer's Rink is your Capitals link. Excellent, excellent blog and well worth the read.