I’ve been watching hockey since back when there were only 21 NHL teams, 16 of which made the playoffs.  So it’s pretty hard for me to get psyched up for a regular season game.  The early Super Bowl Sunday matinee between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins was a rare and glorious exception.

The Penguins got off to a fast start, jumping out to a 4-1 lead, but Alex Ovechkin had a hat trick and assisted on the game-winner in overtime.  With the victory the Capitals have won 14 consecutive games, tying the 1929-1930 Boston Bruins for third longest win streak in NHL history.  While it’s certainly a little easier to put together a win streak since the NHL changed its rules and replaced ties with shootouts, this was only the second overtime win of Washington’s current streak.

The Caps are now three wins away from tying the NHL record set by the Penguins in 1993.  Washington’s next three games are all on the road, at Montreal, at Ottawa, and at St. Louis.  Should they win all three, they’ll have to sit and wait for over two weeks through the Olympic break before trying to set the record on March 3 in Buffalo.

As a Caps fan, I’m just happy they beat the Penguins.  I’m not saying I’m typical, but back when Mario Lemieux got cancer, I don’t think I was the only Caps fan rooting for cancer.

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In related news, NBC commentator Mike Milbury allegedly assaulted a blogger at Sunday’s game.

And ESPN’s John Buccigross says Ovechkin could easily break Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record.