The Washington Capitals are the best team in the NHL’s eastern conference, and the hottest in the league, only a few games removed from a franchise-record fourteen game winning streak. They have scored the most goals in the NHL by a margin of half a goal per game, and their defense is distinctly middle of the road. It’s only fitting, then, that as they approach the NHL’s 3pm deadline for trades in the 2009-10 season, they have added… two veteran forwards?

After two straight losses knocked the Capitals five points out of a playoff spot at the trade deadline, General Manager George McPhee pulled off four deals to give his team the strength to make the playoffs. Then, last night, with all four new players in other cities making travel arrangements, the Caps put together a great team effort to beat the Minnesota Wild. Alleged puck-bunny favorite Brooks Laich stayed hot and continued scoring with two…