Rising stars power surging Capitals as Ovechkin shakes off slow start

The Capitals have relied on the star power of  Alex Ovechkin for more than 20 seasons. But this year, a trio of rising stars has carried the torch to lead Washington toward the top of the standings in the Metropolitan Division.

The Capitals entered December on a four-game winning streak, earning victories in seven of their final eight games in November.

Washington had to overcome a slow start to regain their position as a potential playoff contender. The power play unit was ineffective and even Ovechkin, the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer, had trouble finding the back of the net, scoring just four goals in his first 17 games.

Other contributors had to pick up the slack. On offense, the goal-scoring responsibility fell to forward Tom Wilson and defenseman Jakob Chychrun.

Wilson, 31, returned from a banner year last season that saw him post career highs in goals and assists. 

He carried the momentum into the current campaign. He entered December as Washington’s leader in goals, assists and hits. He’s even helped buoy the once-struggling power-play unit with seven points on special teams.

At his current rate, he’d finish with new career highs: an impressive 91 points from 47 goals and 41 assists.

Chychrun is on a similar trajectory on Washington’s blue line. The 27-year-old leads all NHL defensemen with 10 goals this season after finishing with a career-best 20 last year.

The American-born Chychrun, who possesses dual citizenship through a Canadian mother, isn’t a static option for Washington’s attack. He’s an increasingly dynamic skater, according to coach Spencer Carbery.

“He’s so talented at finding shot lanes, changing his shot angle, moving his feet,” Carbery said. “He gets it, shoots it, releases it, but he also can move it laterally for five, six, seven seconds, and you can attack down, and then he’ll do something different the next time. It keeps defenders off balance.”

Chychrun’s goalies have called out his defensive consistency, too.

“He’s not cheating defensively at all. He’s still being really steady back there,” second goaltender Charlie Lindgren told the Hockey News. “It’s not like when he’s out there, he’s giving up odd-man rushes or anything. He’s one heck of a player.”

With Chychrun’s help in the defensive zone, Washington goaltender Logan Thompson has looked like one of the best netminders in the league, allowing just 2.08 goals per game — tied with Scott Wedgewood of the Colorado Avalanche for the best among NHL goalies with at least 10 starts.

With Thompson in net, the Capitals have had a chance at victory in almost every game. And close match-ups started to tilt in their favor as Ovechkin returned to form.

After an uncharacteristically slow start, the three-time MVP started scoring in November. He found the back of the net nine times in the final 11 games of the month.

Ovechkin even recorded the 33rd hat trick of his historic career as a 40-year-old. He’s on pace to finish with 33 goals on the season. It would be the 20th time he hit the milestone in his 21 seasons as a Capital.

With young stars on the rise and Ovechkin defying Father Time, this year’s Capitals looked primed to make another playoff run, despite the slow start.

“You definitely don’t want to get behind the eight-ball,” Thompson said after Sunday’s win over the New York Islanders. “But just build off it and get ready for the next game because it’s only going to get harder.”

The Capitals wrap up a four-game road trip this week with a game against the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday and a matchup with the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night.