Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images

The Capitals beat the Canes 5-0 Tuesday night at Verizon Center. The win raised the Capitals record to 37-11-6 (80 points). The Capitals next host the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night. Puck drop is 7:00PM. 

Braden Holtby got the start in goal for the Capitals. Hurricanes back-up goalie Eddie Lack got the start for Carolina.

This was Lack’s first start since November. Lack has missed games due to two concussions sustained this season.

Taylor Chorney was the healthy scratch for the Capitals.

This was the 344th consecutive sellout for the Capitals at Verizon Center.

QUICK NOTES

• The Capitals have now scored the first goal in 16 of last 18 games.
• The Capitals improved their 1st period goal differential to plus-35 on season (58-23).
• Washington has 15 power play goals since January 1st.
• Alex Ovechkin passed Joe Sakic (205) for 14th place on the all-time NHL power-play goals list.
• Brett Connolly scored his 11th goal of the season, his 3rd in the last 4 games and 7th in the last 15 games.
• The Caps third line now has 21 goals in the last 21 games (10-20-65 unit).
• The Caps have an NHL-high 10 players with double-digit goals (Ovechkin, Oshie, Williams, Johansson, Backstrom, Kuznetsov, Beagle, Burakovsky, Connolly & Eller).
• This was the Caps 10th shutout of the season. This was Braden Holtby’s 7th shutout of the season.
• 3rd set of back to back shutouts for the Caps since January 1st. Six shutouts in the last 17 games (Adam Miller).
• Via Elias Sports, the Capitals have scored 5+ goals in 9 straight home games, becoming the first team to do so since Calgary on March 3-April 1, 1990 (9).
• 10th straight home win.

FIRST PERIOD
The Capitals would once again strike first, this time on a power play goal by Alex Ovechkin at the 10:23 mark of the first period.

Brett Connolly would stretch the Capitals lead to 2-0 on a dart from the right dot at 13:47 of the opening frame.

The period would end with the Capitals leading 2-0. Shots on goal were tied 7-7 through the first 20 minutes of play. The Caps outshot Canes 6-1 over the final 9:37 after being outshot 6-1 in the opening 10:23.

SECOND PERIOD
The second period would go scoreless. The Capitals best scoring chance came on a 2-on-1 break away, with Ovechkin making a beautiful feed to Nate Schmidt, who couldn’t finish the rush.

The Capitals led in shots on goal 8-6 for the middle frame, and 15-13 through two periods of play.

THIRD PERIOD
The Caps would return to the scoring sheet in the third period. Lars Eller would make it 3-0 on a blast from the left circle at 6:10 of the final frame.

Some fantastic handles by @bconnolly8 before this @Eller_89 💣#CapsCanes on @csnma pic.twitter.com/CxzbgKvxAv

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 8, 2017

Evgeny Kuznetsov would make it 4-0 on a sot from the slot at 6:37 o the final frame.

4 or more in 15 of last 20 #CapsCanes on @csnma pic.twitter.com/I5IiWCBast

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 8, 2017

Marcus Johnasson would notch a power play goal at 14:12 of the final frame.

The Caps would hold on for the 5-0.

By Jon Sorensen
Follow @NoVa_Caps

SCENES FROM VERIZON CENTER

That’s a lot of miles… #CapsCanes #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/jZLUh5EkMB

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 7, 2017

Victory March! #CapsCanes #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/bSDTY1pITZ

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 8, 2017

.@FatimaAl_Ali meeting @ovi8 in the locker room #CapsHIFE pic.twitter.com/PHgeKFtZtG

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 8, 2017