Offensive Juggernaut Continues

The Caps (34-12-6, 74 points) are like butter; they're on a roll. The red, white and blue are clicking on all cylinders right now and are piling up points faster than ever. The team reached the 70-point mark in 50 games, the fastest in franchise history. In 2005-06 and 2006-07, the Caps totaled 70 points in a complete season. The franchise's previous fastest start through 50 games was in 1984-85 (31-12-7).

"I wouldn't say unstoppable, but they're in a groove," Coach Bruce Boudreau said after last night's 7-2 victory over the New York Islanders. "Teams, whether you're in first place or 30th, at some point in a season things just seem to be working, clicking. Right now things are clicking for us. We got seven goals and [Alex Ovechkin] and [Mike Green] didn't get a point. It says you've good balance in your team."

Washington leads the league in goals per game (3.81), even-strength goals (129), power-play goals (52), first-period goals (65) and third-period goals (67).

The Caps' seven-game winning streak matches the team's best since 1988-89; a win tonight would give them their longest winning streak since the club record 10-game streak in 1983-84. Boudreau has led the Capitals to a seven-game winning streak in each of his three seasons behind the bench.

The only real injury concerns now are in goal, as Jose Theodore got hurt last night and Braden Holtby has been recalled from Hershey -- presumably to back up Michal Neuvirth tonight against the Anaheim Ducks (who lost, 2-1, last night in Atlanta).

Speaking of Southeast Division teams, the Caps have a 19-point lead over their closest rival (the Florida Panthers) with one game in hand and a 20-point cushion over the Thrashers. They're also five points up on the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference (with one more game played) -- marking the latest in a season that they've led the conference.

With 10 games in 17 days leading up to the Olympics, the Caps must keep their proverbial foot on the pedal and keep rolling. But, if they do, they could have boast about 90 points heading into the season's final 20 games.