However, the Washington Capitals might have been fooled by the earlier start time, as they didn't really seem to turn on the gas until the third period, and even then, it wasn't enough to overcome the surging Ottawa Senators in a 5-4 overtime loss on Thursday.

Caps give up two penalty shots -- while on the power play -- and lose to Senators in overtime, 5-4, despite a goal from Alex Ovechkin.

Alex Ovechkin moved within 19 goals of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record, scoring on a late power play in the Washington Capitals’ 5-4 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night.

Andlauer says he didn't realize how much "scar tissue" had been left with the fan base because of relocation talk in previous years.

However, Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome didn't like that storyline, and refused to let their team leave empty-handed. The two led a furious rally in the third period to force overtime, but ultimately, a lack of discipline and a rough go-of-it led to a 5-4 loss.

The Senators scored in the knick of time to pick up a 5-4 victory over Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals in front of a sellout crowd of 18,792 on Thursday night at the Canadian Tire Centre. Thomas Chabot scored in alone with 3:14 left in overtime to secure a big two points in the Eastern Conference playoff race for the Senators.

One thing to watch: It’s been an awakening for The Great 8, 39-year-old Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin, who has 22 goals in 34 games (he scored 31 all of last season). With 875 career goals, he’s now just 19 behind the NHL all-time record set by Wayne Gretzky.

The teams with the two highest point totals in the NHL will face off on Saturday night when the Winnipeg Jets visit the Washington Capitals.

The Ottawa Senators are back on the ice tomorrow night when they take on the Washington Capitals at 7:00 p.m. ET.

The Washington Capitals are finally at the end of their lengthy road swing up north, as their five-game stretch culminates with one last visit to the Ottawa Senators, who D.C. saw just a couple weeks back.

It was supposed to be a relatively quiet start to the week for the Ottawa Senators, and they had certainly earned it. The Senators are in third place in the Atlantic Division and finally had a day off after playing 10 games in 16 days.