It seemed like things couldn't get more difficult for the Washington Capitals this week. The Southeast Division leaders were missing enough talented players to field a respectable power play. Alexander Semin, a former first-round pick who had been leading the NHL in scoring, was injured. Sergei Fedorov -- frequent All-Star, holder of multiple Stanley Cup rings, and the highest scoring Russian-born player in NHL history -- was injured. Boyd Gordon, a former first round draft pick who once centered Jaromir Jagr, was injured. John Erskine, the team's toughest defenseman, was injured. Jeff Schultz, a former first round pick and the team's tallest defenseman, was injured. Mike Green, a former first round pick who led NHL blue-liners in goal scoring last season and was first-team All-Star, was injured.

Then team captain Chris Clark announced he had been playing with a broken arm, and joined the ranks of the infirm. So, of course, the team did what anybody would expect on Wednesday night: they dominated the Atlanta Thrashers. The few uninjured Caps who suited up won 5-3 on the strength of Alex Ovechkin's hat trick. The reigning NHL MVP showed why he is still worthy of that title. He had an even better chance to prove it last night at the Verizon Center, as the Caps took on the Montreal Canadiens.

Upping the ante, the Caps were without defenseman Tom Poti for the game against Montreal. Poti, second only to Green in minutes played for the Caps last season, is a regular contributor on both special teams, a reliable passer on offense, and a very good defender. His replacement? Bryan Hellmer. Hellmer, 36, last played in the NHL in 2004, and signed his first Caps contract Friday morning. After the 2004-05 owner's lockout, the standard for NHL defensemen has shifted from a primary requirement of toughness to a need for speed. A resume like Hellmer's indicates a tough, slow, old school player. This summer, Hellmer reinforced that image when he told NHL.com, "nowadays, the kids are so fast."

Hellmer patrolled the Caps blueline with AHL colleagues Karl Alzner, Sami Lepisto and Tyler Sloan, all of whom started the year with him at the Hershey Bears. (Shaone Morrisonn and Milan Jurcina are the only two healthy defensemen who started the season in Washington.) Up front, recent healthy scratch Michael Nylander was back on the second line. Until Fedorov or Gordon recovers, at least, we expect to hear fewer rumors about Nylander's supposedly impending trade to Chicago.

So how did the Caps follow up on a stunning defeat of Atlanta while missing half of a hockey team? They produced an excellent defensive effort and shut out the Canadiens. Nylander set up Tomas Fleschmann for the game winner, Ovechkin scored again, and fourth line center Dave Steckel put the game out of harm's way. Jose Theodore stopped every shot against the team he played for when he won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player -- an honor he certainly helped Ovechkin defend last night.

One wonders what the Caps will have in store for tonight's game in Columbus against the Blue Jackets; after the week they've had, if everyone manages to get back on the plane in one piece, it'd probably be considered a rousing success.