Pluses: It starts with Alex Ovechkin, who has 45 goals and is inching closer to his ninth 50-goal season in the NHL, and John Carlson, who has 73 points (15 goals, 58 assists) and has been at the forefront of the Norris Trophy conversation all season. Those two have been the two most consistent players on the Capitals.
The goalie tandem of Braden Holtby and rookie Ilya Samsonov has worked nicely together. It hasn't been his best season in terms of stats, but Holtby still has 24 wins and gives them a chance to win every night. And Samsonov is among the rookie leaders in wins (16), GAA (2.40) and save percentage (.917). The best teams are the ones with depth throughout the lineup, and the Capitals have that.