Montreal's Brian Gionta is upended by Washington's Alexander Semin during first period of Wednesday's game.
Christinne Muschi-Reuters
Montreal's Josh Gorges lies on the ice after being struck by a slapshot by Washington's Mike Green during the first period of Wednesday's game.
Christinne Muschi-Reuters
Tomas Plekanec, center, is congratulated by teammates Roman Hamrlik, left, and Sergei Kostitsyn after scoring the winning goal on Wednesday.
Graham Hughes-AP
Jan. 13: Caps 5, Panthers 4 (SO)
The Capitals are 14-1 since Alex Ovechkin was named captain on Jan. 5. The first victory of the current streak came in a shootout against Florida.
Joel Auerbach-Getty Images
Jan. 13: Caps 5, Panthers 4 (SO)
Florida goaltender Tomas Vokoun stops a shot by Tomas Fleischmann at BankAtlantic Center. Fleischmann later fired a goal past Vokoun in the shootout to seal a victory.
Joel Auerbach-Getty Images
Jan. 15: Caps 6, Maple Leafs 1
Alex Ovechkin amassed a goal and four assists to lift the Capitals past Toronto.
Jonathan Newton-Washington Post
Jan. 17: Caps 5, Flyers 3
Brooks Laich scored twice and Alex Ovechkin converted on a penalty shot for the first time in his career to help the Caps beat Philadelphia and retake the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Toni L. Sandys-Washington Post
Jan. 17: Caps 5, Flyers 3
Fans at Verizon Center yell the Caps' "Unleash the Fury" slogan during the third period against Philadelphia.
Toni L. Sandys-Washington Post
Jan. 19: Caps 3, Red Wings 2
Washington's stirring home win against Detroit was a confidence booster. "It's a good way to gauge where you're at," said Matt Bradley, who scored the Capitals' first goal. "When you're playing arguably the best team over the past 10 years, it's always a great challenge."
Toni L. Sandys-Washington Post
Jan. 21: Caps 6, Penguins 3
Goals by Tomas Fleischmann and Nicklas Backstrom less than a minute apart early in the third period helped the Caps steal a win against rival Pittsburgh at Mellon Arena.
Jamie Sabau-Getty Images
Jan. 23: Caps 4, Coyotes 2
The Capitals killed off all five penalties to hang on against the Coyotes for their sixth straight win.
John Mcdonnell-The Washington Post
!["I was really worried about this game because Phoenix is a good team but also because of a [potential] emotional letdown after playing Detroit, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh," Coach Bruce Boudreau said after the win. "I thought our guys answered the bell pretty well emotionally."](http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/photo/gallery/100203/GAL-10Feb03-3706/media/PHO-10Feb03-202831.jpg)
Jan. 23: Caps 4, Coyotes 2
"I was really worried about this game because Phoenix is a good team but also because of a [potential] emotional letdown after playing Detroit, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh," Coach Bruce Boudreau said after the win. "I thought our guys answered the bell pretty well emotionally."
John Mcdonnell-The Washington Post
Jan. 26: Caps 7, Islanders 2
Alexander Semin tallied twice in the first period, and the Capitals got goals from five others, including John Erskine's first in 109 games, as they extended their winning streak to seven games.
Jim Mcisaac-Getty Images
Jan. 27: Caps 5, Ducks 2
Shaone Morrisonn, Mike Knuble (pictured) and Alexander Semin scored goals on the first three shots of the third period -- all in a span of 2 minutes 30 seconds -- and the Capitals cruised to their eighth win in a row.
Jonathan Newton-Washington Post
Jan. 27: Caps 5, Ducks 2
The Caps' eight-game streak after a win against Anaheim matched their longest since the team won a franchise-record 10 consecutive games during the 1983-84 season.
Jonathan Newton-Washington Post
Jan. 29: Caps 4, Panthers 1
The Capitals celebrate a ninth straight win, giving them the franchise's longest streak since 1983-84, when the club won 10 straight.
Toni L. Sandys-Washington Post
Jan. 29: Caps 4, Panthers 1
Nicklas Backstrom's goal, his 22nd of the season, matched the career high the third-year center set last season.
Toni L. Sandys-Washington Post
Jan. 31: Caps 3, Lightning 2
The Capitals matched a 26-year-old franchise record of 10 consecutive wins with a home victory against Tampa Bay.
Toni L. Sandys-Washington Post
Jan. 31: Caps 3, Lightning 2
Alex Ovechkin celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal in the third period. "My emotions are mellow," Coach Bruce Boudreau said of the milestone. "The number 10 is pretty tough to get to, and I told the guys, "You might go your whole career without getting it again, so enjoy it."
Toni L. Sandys-Washington Post
Feb. 2: Caps 4, Bruins 1
Capitals goalie Jose Theodore dives to make a save against the Bruins. The win made it 11 straight, the longest winning streak in franchise history, and gave Theodore a personal-record eighth consecutive victory.
Elise Amendola-AP
Feb. 2: Caps 4, Bruins 1
Washington's Brooks Laich, right, savors his third-period goal, his fourth in six games. "We didn't play really well, but we found a way to win, because they believed we could win," Coach Bruce Boudreau said. "When you're on a winning streak, you find ways, good things happen."
Elise Amendola-AP
Feb. 4: Caps 6, Rangers 5
Jose Theodore stops a shot by the New York Rangers' Olli Jokinen. Theodore allowed five goals but made key saves to keep it close in his career-best ninth straight win.
Frank Franklin Ii-AP
Feb. 4: Caps 6, Rangers 5
Alex Ovechkin, celebrates with teammates after a goal by Nicklas Backstrom, who had five points in the game.
Frank Franklin Ii-AP
Feb. 4: Caps 6, Rangers 5
Matt Bradley is stopped on a breakaway by Henrik Lundqvist. The lead changed three times, but the Caps were confident. "We're never out of it," said defenseman Tom Poti. "We can be down by one or two or three and we know that we have the offense to come back and score."
Jim Mcisaac-Getty Images
Feb. 4: Caps 6, Rangers 5
Alex Ovechkin got the 500th point of his career on a jaw-dropping, one-handed goal. "It will be in the top 30," Coach Bruce Boudreau said when asked to rank the goal among Ovechkin's all-time greatest. "He scores a lot of nice ones."
Jim Mcisaac-Getty Images
Feb. 5: Caps 5, Thrashers 2
Alex Ovechkin fires a shot past Atlanta goalie Ondrej Pavelec for a first-period score, extending his goal streak to four games.
John McDonnell-The Washington Post
Feb. 5: Caps 5, Thrashers 2
Goalie Michal Neuvirth stopped 43 shots to help Washington win its 13th straight game.
John McDonnell-The Washington Post
Feb. 7: Caps 5, Penguins 4 (OT)
Alex Ovechkin knocks Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby to the ice. Crosby scored twice to help Pittsburgh go up 4-1, but Ovechkin had a hat trick to help Washington rally back.
John McDonnell-The Washington Post
Feb. 7: Caps 5, Penguins 4 (OT)
Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby is slammed into the wall by Washington's Jeff Schultz. After rallying back from a 4-1 deficit, Mike Knuble scored in overtime to give the Caps another thrilling victory over their bitter rival.
John McDonnell-The Washington Post
Gallery Credits:
Photo Editor Sam Funt
Text Editor Lindsay Applebaum
