Ovi's hot streak electrifying Caps: 'Bench just goes bananas every time'

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has looked unstoppable during his current five-game goal streak, which has given the rest of his team a shot in the arm.

"Our bench just goes bananas every time," head coach Spencer Carbery said with a laugh after Washington's 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Wednesday night.

"(Ovechkin), in general, when he's not scoring, provides a ton of life," he continued. "But when he's going and the puck's around him and he's skating and he's on one of these runs when they're going in for him, it is noticeable as a coach on the bench.

"His teammates can feel that and sense that, and it makes everybody - when he touches the puck - everybody sorta holds their breath a little bit. It's probably no different than the building, to be honest with you."

Ovechkin has scored six goals over this run, including Wednesday's game-winner. Despite the back-breaker, Predators bench boss Andrew Brunette couldn't help but tip his cap to the veteran.

"You knew it was coming," he said, per The Hockey News' Sammi Silber. "You're on the bench, and I guess I've seen him too many times. I've played against him, I've coached against him, I've watched him and he just finds that. And when it's on his stick, it's gone.

"That's a big-time shot from, obviously, arguably the greatest goal-scorer of all time."

Ovechkin is now up to eight tallies, 16 points, and 40 shots this campaign. He's only 34 goals away from passing Wayne Gretzky for No. 1 on the NHL's all-time list.

Ovechkin is also only six game-winners away from breaking Jaromir Jagr's record of 135 career game-winners.

Though it's been entertaining to watch the future Hall of Famer's surge in his pursuit of Gretzky, nothing has changed from Ovechkin's perspective.

"I always have fun," he said.

Ovechkin's early-season chemistry with linemates Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas has helped. Washington has outscored opponents 12-3 with its top line on the ice at five-on-five this campaign while dictating 58.1% of the expected goals, per Natural Stat Trick.

Though Strome said it's "fun to be along for the ride" as Ovechkin chases history, he's focused on the bigger picture.

"We don't really talk about it in here, obviously we know what he's going after, but he just does his job," Strome said. "His job is to score goals, and he does a great job of that."

Washington is now 9-3-0 this season.