Ovechkin begins 'most important week' of NHL career

ARLINGTON, Va. - The NHL's leading scorer is eager to get into the playoffs for the first time. Most everyone agrees it would be good for the league as a whole if he gets there.

The next few days will determine if he makes it. Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals finish the regular season with three home games, likely needing to win them all if they are to cap a turnaround season with the franchise's first playoff berth since 2003.

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Alex Ovechkin scores 60th in Atlanta

ATLANTA - Alex Ovechkin is scoring goals and having fun. With a playoff spot on the line, he gave the Washington Capitals exactly what they needed.

Ovechkin became the NHL's first 60-goal scorer in 12 years by getting two Friday night in the Capitals' comeback 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers.

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Ovechkin adds two more as Capitals edge Flames

WASHINGTON - Olaf Kolzig's 300th NHL win came with a little help from Alex Ovechkin.

Ovechkin scored his NHL-leading 55th and 56th goals, including the tiebreaker with 1:54 left, and the Washington Capitals beat the Calgary Flames 3-2 for Kolzig's milestone victory.

With the Capitals trying to keep realistic hopes alive for a playoff spot, Kolzig had little chance to focus on his accomplishments in 17 seasons with Washington. Kolzig is the 23rd goalie to win 300 NHL games.

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Ovechkin chasing 60, MVP and playoff spot for Capitals

ARLINGTON, Va. - It looked like a pose stolen from the dramatic end of a figure skater's routine. The player on pace to become the NHL's first 60-goal scorer in more than a decade slid backward on his knees, his face buried in his hands.

But it was no act. Alex Ovechkin had just watched a teammate accidentally swipe the puck into his own net in the final minute, the deciding goal in a loss that has put the Washington Capitals' playoff hopes in peril.

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Ovechkin at it again in Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Alexander Ovechkin is quickly discovering how much more satisfying it is to score goals now that the Washington Capitals find themselves in the playoff hunt.

Ovechkin scored twice, giving him an NHL-leading 54 goals, and played a big role in setting up Nicklas Backstrom's goal in a 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night in a key Eastern Conference playoff-race matchup.

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