Alexander Ovechkin

While the 2013 NHL playoffs didn't go particularly well for Washington Capitals star forward Alexander Ovechkin, as he scored just one goal in a seven-game ouster against the New York Rangers, he captured the Hart Memorial Trophy as a reward for his stellar regular-season play.

New York Daily News reporter Pat Leonard had the news:

Alex Ovechkin wasn't going to go quietly into the good night after his Washington Capitals were blown out, 5-0, in Game 7 versus the New York Rangers Monday night.

The Capitals had a 3-2 series lead going into Game 6 on Sunday, but the 1-0 loss prompted Game 7.

Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin and John Tavares were arguably the NHL's most dominant offensive forces this season, and now one of them is on the precipice of winning the league's most prestigious award.

As improbable as it seemed a month ago, the Washington Capitals are going to the NHL playoffs for a sixth consecutive season. Not only that, but the Caps will enter the playoffs as the Southeast division champions and the No. 3 seed.

In one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent memory, the Caps have officially laid to rest the memory of a dreadful 2-8-1 start.

Not too bad for a team that seemed dead in the water and was 10 points out of the division lead back on March 10.

The start of the 2013 season brought a tremendous sigh of relief to the NHL.

After a four-month lockout, things were back to normal. Or were they? 

Once teams started reporting to training camp, a basic league-wide philosophy was evoked almost universally. With a 48-game season, it was all about getting off to a hot start. Begin the season slowly and a team would likely get buried.

Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals' playoff hopes were in trouble earlier this season, as the Capitals started the season with a 2-8-1 record. Ovechkin had just seven points in 11 games.

Things have changed.

The Washington Capitals have made the playoffs five consecutive seasons—but the streak is in jeopardy this season.

Washington is currently 11th overall in the Eastern Conference with 31 points—four points out of the final playoff spot.

Offense was once a strength for this team—but it has gone down significantly in recent years. In 2007-08, they ranked eighth in league scoring with 238 goals. The next season, their 268 goals was third in the league.

With the Washington Capitals' season in the balance Thursday and Friday night, on the road, against the Southeast Division-leading Winnipeg Jets, it was Alexander Ovechkin who came to the rescue.

When the Caps absolutely needed their captain the most, Ovi responded on Thursday night with a goal and two assists as the Caps shutout Winnipeg, again, 4-0.

Final

Pittsburgh Penguins 2 - Washington Capitals 1

The Washington Capitals were able to make things interesting.

It took the Pittsburgh Penguins until the third period before they could take the lead and after that they never looked back.

The turning point of the game had to be the four minute penalty that the Penguins were able to kill off.

So we're about halfway through the season and everything is just as crazy as we had expected, if not crazier.

Two teams that finished last in their divisions in 2012 are leading them at the halfway mark of 2013, Columbus is only four points out of a playoff spot, and in case you haven't heard, that team from Chicago still hasn't lost a game in regulation yet.