Capitals-Senators Review: The Great Eight Nets Three in 7-4 Win

Alex Ovechkin scored three times in the first two periods, leading his Washington Capitals past the struggling Ottawa Senators, 7-4, before another sellout crowd at the Verizon Center.

The "Great Eight" increased his league-leading goals total to 36 after scoring five goals in the Capitals' two afternoon games over the weekend. For a player that notoriously dislikes afternoon games, even Ovechkin himself cannot argue with the results.

After a statement win over the Detroit Red Wings Saturday, the Caps could have been in for a letdown against Ottawa, disappointingly mired in the bottom of the Eastern Conference. 

But head coach Bruce Boudreau's charges came out from the first faceoff, playing with determination and brilliance, to quell any thoughts the Senators had of pulling off the upset, despite allowing Sens captain Daniel Alfredsson to open the scoring just over three minutes into the game.

Washington followed that goal with two of their own in the first, both in spectacular fashion on the power play.

Defenseman Mike Green blasted a slapshot past Sens goalie Brian Elliott just seconds after an Ottawa hooking penalty. Less than a minute later, with another Ottawa player in the box, Green found Ovechkin in the left wing dot, who made no mistake with the puck.

Credit goes to Nicklas Backstrom and Sergei Fedorov for winning offensive zone faceoffs, both times passing the puck directly back to Green at the point.

The Caps scored four times in the second period, including on a breakaway from Alexander Semin, who made a nifty move on replacement goaltender Alex Auld.

Semin faked Auld with the forehand and then lifted the backhand past him once the goalie fell on the ice.

The play was set up by Green, who lobbed a long pass to a breaking Semin. Boudreau called the play a "Hail Mary" in honor of Super Bowl Sunday.

"A highlight pass," Boudreau said. "That was a sick pass by Mike Green."

Washington rests until Tuesday night, when they travel to New Jersey to face the Devils at 7:00 pm.

The Caps hold a one point advantage over New Jersey for second place in the Eastern Conference. The Devils have won eight in a row and nine of their last 10 games.