By The Numbers: Caps 4, Sharks 1

Here is a look at some of the more interesting numbers and statistics from the Washington Capitals 4-1 win over the San Jose Sharks:

1999 – Was the last time that the Caps beat the Sharks – Feb. 20th, 1999 to be exact.

169 – Career points in 171 games, for Nicklas Backstrom, after he set up Alexander Semin in the 1st. It was Backstrom’s 9th assist, and 11th point of this 7-game season.

28 – Minutes of ice-time for blue chip blue-liner Mike Green (27:59)

15 – Shots, 15 saves for Semyon Varlamov.

13 – Of the Caps 37 shots, including 8 in the first period, came from Alexander the Great – incredible. San Jose had 28 shots.

13 – Shots for Jose Theodore in the first before he left with what were apparently back spasms – Theodore stopped 12 of the 13 shots.

12 – Of 16 at the face-off dot for David Steckle, for an amazing 75%; unfortunately, Backstrom was just 5 of 17 (29%).

11 – Games in a row that the Sharks had won against the Caps – until Thursday night.

7 – Goals in 7 games for Ovechkin

6 – Goals in 7 games for Semin

5 – Power plays in the first for Washington, with two-man advantages twice due to overlapping calls. Washington only scored one PP goal, but killing the penalties, wore the Sharks out.

4 – Game losing streak for the Capitals comes to an end.

3 – Games Ovechkin had gone without a goal.

2 – Assists for both Brendan Morrison and for Mike Knuble, on two Ovechkin goals; it was their first game playing on a line together.

1 – Big win for the Caps. They needed to get the monkey off their back, and get back to winning hockey games.