In case you missed it, Jon, the Sabres are now in the Power 5. The Caps are not overrated. Do they need an upgrade on defense and in net? Yes, but that is coming soon through trades and healing. They do tend to run around in their own end, and that should be the focus in film study and practice time. They need to learn how to defend one-goal leads in the third period. That wins championships.

I watched the Red Wings-Capitals game Tuesday night, and Ovechkin stayed on the ice way too long at the end of the game. As captain, he needs to set a better example in terms of his shift times. It was as if he was sniffing for the empty-net goal. This was a one-goal lead against the Red Wings in the kind of game the Caps need to get into the habit of winning.

I love Ovi to death. He has infused an energy and uniqueness into not only the NHL but also sports as a whole. From my standpoint, I hope the score of every Capitals game is 7-6 whether they win or lose. But Capitals fans need to see their captain continue to learn and lead by example. Dropping the gloves in Tampa Bay was a good first step. The length of his shifts might be the next step in his evolution as a leader, especially when the Caps are trying to protect a lead.