Puck 'N Hockey

With the All-Star break almost a week away, the Washington Capitals are building momentum as they seek to regain supremacy in the Southeast Division. With a comeback win against Ottawa, and a considerably dominant win over the Islanders, the Capitals continue to try and find line combinations that will allow star players Ovechkin, Backstrom, and Brooks Laich more chances to score.

Jason Chimera deflects Alexander Ovechkin's shot. (via AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

Perhaps they may have found some consistency with the Ovechkin-Backstrom-Chimera line tonight against the New York Islanders. Backstrom rediscovered his scoring touch with a goal and an assist in a 2-1 victory that should not have been as close as the score indicates. Ovechkin had a couple of assists as the Capitals’ top line dominated play with each shift. The lone low point this week was a 3-2 loss in overtime to the Eastern Conference leading Philadelphia Flyers. While the Capitals continue to be one of the premiere teams in the NHL, there has to be some level of concern that the team is having trouble scoring the first goal in games and getting more production from its star players. But the emphasis on playing improved defense does provide confidence to win close games and perhaps make a deep run in the playoffs.