This post was written by DCist contributor Jesse Rounds

Since dropping 8 in a row two weeks ago, the Capitals have gotten strong team play and timely individual excellence. They’ve also picked up 10 points from 7 games.

Washington’s first stop on their short road trip to Canada ended in a difficult loss to the Montreal Canadiens. The Capitals were tied with the playoff bound Habs late into the game. A poor puck-handling decision by Olie Kolzig led to a 2-1 lead for the Canadiens. A high intensity third period saw the Caps tie the game to force the extra period during which Montreal scored on a break away to win the game 3-2. Kolzig summed up the evening after the game, “It’s disappointing the way we played the last few games, the way we battled back tonight. [In the third] period, I thought we played a heck of a period. Unfortunately, I gift-wrapped the second goal for them. We came back and tied the game. Then we made another mistake and it wound up in the back of the net.”

On the last day of March the Caps had their last opportunity of the season to take on the Senators. Ottawa’s best defensemen were injured and the Capitals had the chance to take advantage. By shutting down Ottawa’s top forwards and pressing their advantage in the offensive zone, Washington pulled out a rare win in hockey’s other national capital. Brent Johnson was “great again” according to Coach Glen Hanlon. The Capitals’ backup has benefited from the cramped game schedule caused by the Olympic break; the result is a lot of back-to-back games that couldn’t all be staffed by Olie, thus offering Johnson more playing time. Dainius Zubrus provided the lone goal on the evening giving the Caps the hard fought 1-0 win.