The captain got things started, but a big third
period carried the Caps to victory last night.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Capitals 5, Ducks 1: Alexander Ovechkin must have been jealous. Seven goals on Tuesday and not a single one to his credit? No problem; it only took Ovie all of 36 seconds to get on the board against Anaheim last night at the Phone Booth.

But it was an rapid-fire offensive third period which eventually pushed the Caps over the visitors from Orange County. Washington scored three times on consecutive shots in the opening four and a half minutes of the final period, including Shoane Morrisonn’s first goal of the season. Morrisonn also assisted, along with Ovechkin, on MIke Knuble’s tally which, for all intents and purposes, put the game away. Alexander Semin (14 points in his last seven games) then earned his first star of the game, putting on the finishing touches with a pair of goals. Michal Neuvirth, pushed to the top of the depth chart because of yet another goalkeeping setback to Jose Theodore, anchored the defense with 30 saves, holding the Ducks to one goal — always a key to victory when you play for a team that’s scoring an unreal 3.76 goals per game.

The Capitals now lead the Southeast Division by 21 points, the largest divisional lead they’ve ever had in franchise history, have won eight straight and 11 of the 12 games since Ovechkin was chosen for the captaincy. The State of the Caps? Really, really good, my friends.