In the finale of a four-game grudge max, with absolutely nothing at stake, the Washington Capitals showed once again their regular season mastery over the Pittsburgh Penguins, winning 6-3 at "The Igloo" to complete the season sweep.

Alex Ovechkin scored twice in the contest, a power play early in the third period to push the lead back to two, and an empty net gift from his center, Nick Backstrom, to tie Sidney Crosby at 48 for the league's goal title, the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy.

The Caps got out to a two-goal lead courtesy of an Alexander Semin slap shot (39) in the first period and a Mike Knuble slapper (28) just 42 seconds into the second.

Crosby notched a power play marker six minutes later, sniping a shot between penalty killers David Steckel and Tyler Sloan.

But the backbreaker tonight was a Tomas Fleischmann wrist shot just 21 seconds later that sent Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fluery to the showers early.

The play was set up by Semin, who beat Max Talbot to a puck on the boards, tapping it back to Flash for the shot before paying the price with a high elbow from Talbot to Semin's earhole that failed to garner a call from the stripes.

In fact, the Penguins got four power plays to the Caps' one, marking the 15th straight meeting between the two where Pittsburgh had equal to or more power play opportunites than the Caps.

The Professor, Matt Bradley, tipped in a shot from Quentin Laing to reach his personal best 10th goal of the season, registering the actual game-winning goal.  Half of Bradley's goals have been scored as game-winning goals this season.

Jordan Leopold scored the other two goals for Pittsburgh.  The first was slap shot that bounced of defenseman Shaone Morrisonn, who lost his stick on the play and tried to soccer kick to shot.  Instead it went through goalie Semyon Varlamov's pads.

Varlamov was elsewise strong in net, making 26 saves on 29 shots. 

For the Caps to prove supremacy over the defending Stanley Cup Champions, they'll have to do more than win four regular season games.  But sweeping the season series serves notice that Washington is ready for the challenge that will come in the second season.

If the playoffs started today, Pittsburgh would be the four seed, setting up a potential second round matchup between the bitter rivals. 

Regardless of which round it happens in, you'd have to think the Caps will have to exorcize some demons this post-season if they wish to obtain the one goal they have left.  And sweeping the season series should give them some more confidence toward that goal.

Jose Theodore made 28 saves, Alex Ovechkin had two assists, and Brooks Laich banged home the game winner in overtime as the Washington Capitals defeated the desperate Boston Bruins 3-2, in what could have been a preview of the first round of the playoffs.

The Capitals entered the game as the newly crowned winner of the President's Trophy, presented to the team that totals the most regular season points.  It assures the Caps home-ice advantage for the entirety of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Bruins, on the other hand, came in fighting for the final spot in the playoffs, the eighth seed. 

Boston gained a point, by virtue of taking the game to overtime, and moved into seventh place with 85 points. Montreal is sixth with 86 points and Philadelphia is in eighth place with 84 points.  Any of the three could still end up in the eighth seed and face the daunting task of trying to unseat the Capitals.

The game was suited to Boston's strength much of the game.  It was a slow, plodding game for much of the affair, with scoring chances coming from rebounds and bouncing pucks instead of laser shots and dipsy-dos.

The game-winner from Laich, still wearing the full cage as a result of the facial injury sustained a couple weeks ago, was an "ugly" goal.  On a 4-on-3 power play in the extra frame, courtesy of a Dennis Wideman high-stick on Tomas Fleischmann, Alexander Semin wound up big from the left wind circle on Boston goalie Tuukka Rask (27 saves).

Semin misfired and the puck came up into Laich's midsection.  Laich knocked the puck to his feet and slapped it past the out of position Rask to end the affair.

It was a fitting ending, and the outcome was made possible by the stellar goaltending by Theodore.  He controlled his rebounds all night, and was sharp on pucks coming through traffic.  He made two consecutive highlight reel pad saves on Michale Ryder in the slot, the second of which was an old school double stack laying on the ice.

Coach Bruce Boudreau praised his goalie after the game.  "It's hard to say which was his best. He's made some great saves to keep us in. He's had his couple of a bad games [and] now he's back in the groove I hope. He was real good."

Boudreau rested his star defenseman in this one.  Mike Green was given a night off in preparation for the playoffs. Despite missing their top D-man, the Caps killed all thre penalties assessed on the night.

There's no rest for the weary though, as the Capitals travel to Pittsburgh tonight for a matchup with the Penguins.  The Caps are trying to sweep the Pens, having won all three previous meetings this season.

The Washington Capitals got goals from Alexander Semin, Tomas Fleischmann and Mike Green--and 34 saves from first star of the game Jose Theodore-- to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2.

The win is No. 51 for the season for Washington, setting a franchise record.

Theodore improved to 18-0-3 with a 2.70 GAA since Jan. 13, extending his own record for decisions without a regulation loss.

The Caps added to their franchise record for points in a season (114) and set a new mark for road wins (23).

Unfortunately, I did not get to watch the game, so please visit one of the excellent blogs in the blogroll to the right of this story for analysis of the game.

During their recently concluded three-game losing streak, Caps players, media, fans and Coach Bruce Boudreau all spoke often about the need for the club to play a full 60-minute game, something they all freely admitted they were not doing.

Thursday night, against a scrappy Atlanta team trying to earn the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals got that 60-minute effort, defeating the Thrashers 2-1 before a frenzied capacity crowd at Verizon Center.

Defenseman Mike Green, who assisted on the Caps' first goal of the night, spoke after the game about the effort level and getting the job done.

"It's been a while since we played a 60-minute game.  We've struggled in the first period the last few games, but tonight we came out strong.  It was important we got our first goal and usually when you do it lets everyone relax a little, you know, play the game properly."

"It was a complete 60 tonight.  It was something we needed to prove to ourselves that we can do going into the playoffs."

On playing--and beating--a team they could very well face in the first round, Green said, "It was important we got this win so they don't believe that [Atlanta] could ever beat us."

Coach Bruce Boudreau spoke about the compete effort in his post-game press conference.

"I thought it was like a playoff game.  It was tense and there weren't a lot of shots.  Those are the hardest games to play, because, I think there were 44 whistles after two periods.  You gotta stay focused cause some guys might not get on the ice for eight, ten minutes."

"I thought we beared down and proved we can play defensive when we have to.  And tonight was one of those nights."

The game winning goal was scored by the checking line of Matt Bradley, Jason Chimera and David Steckel. 

Steckel and Chimera both made good plays along the boards to keep the offensive zone, then the combative Bradley wrestled the puck from 48-year old Chris Chelios in the corner and went to the net, stuffing a backhander short-side against goalie Ondrej Pavelec.

It was a good reward for a line that worked hard all night, and for Bradley in particular.  He's been scuffling a bit of late, but with the tally he tied his career season-high of nine goals, set his rookie year with the San Jose Sharks.

"We talked about the last couple of games, if we had played [wide-open hockey] in the playoffs, it wasn't going to work," Bradley said. "We knew it was going to be a playoff-style game tonight because they're fighting for their lives. The first two periods were kind of boring with not much happening, but you've just got to wait it out and not make any stupid moves and you know your breaks will come."

Caps goalie Semyon Varlamov turned away 19 shots in the victory.  Though he wasn't tested very often, he made several nice saves early in the third period, before the Caps pressure just became oppressive for Atlanta. 

The Caps completely dominated a three minute stretch late in the third, keeping the puck deep in Atlanta's end, effectively running just two lines:  the fourth and first.  The Thrashers would empty their net with just over a minute to play, but even then they did not manage a quality chance on net.

There was a bit of a scare in the second period.  Atlanta forward Colby Armstrong delivered a fairly obvious flagrant elbow to the head of Caps' center Mattieu Perrault, knocking the diminutive player to the ice.  Perrault made his way to the bench under his own power, and would return, only to take a high stick later and open a nice gash on his lip.

"I was trying to make a play and I saw him at the last second," Perrault said.  "He got his elbow up pretty high, I think.  I kinda turned and he got me in the head."

There was no call on the elbow, as Armstrong only received a roughing when Shaone Morrisonn stood up for his fallen teammate.

"I guess [the referees] didn't really see it there.  On the replay you can see it was an elbow.  It should have been a penalty, I think."

So the Caps made a statement; to the Thrashers, to their coach, to themselves.  With five regular season games remaining, it was time for the team to pull it together and give a complete effort--a 60-minute game.

NOTES:  Nicklas Backstrom scored his 30th goal of the season, redirecting a Mike Green wrist shot from the point.  The assist gives Green 73 points, matching his career high.

Alex Ovechkin's assist on the play gives him 103 points on the season.

The win marks No. 50 for the Caps this season.

Brooks Laich returned to the ice for the first time, since his puck to the face, wearing a full cage mask.
Photo Courtesy of Jenn McAdoo of Net Asset Photography.