Alex Ovechkin and the Caps are in the Windy City tonight looking for the franchise's first five-game winning streak in seven years. All 29 of the other teams in the league have one of at least five games since the Caps last had one.
While it is Ovechkin's first trip to Chicago, wrapping up his first-stop tour of all 30 arenas, he is not part of the spotlight matchup against the Blackhawks (unless he scores twice to hit 60, then he will be the story across the continent regardless of what happens).
For now though it is all about the kids (younger than Ovechkin) tonight at United Center. Washington's Nicklas Backstrom will be on the ice with possibly his two biggest competitors for the Calder Trophy, Pat Kane and Jonathan Toews. I am certainly excited to see Toews and Kane in person. That the Hawks have a future again is a great thing for the league. While Backstrom might lose votes from people who don't see him play and say, 'oh, he just racks up points because of Ovechkin,' he could prove he is the best rookie regardless of point totals tonight.
