It's the Washington Capitals' turn to ride a magnificent wave in the Metropolitan Division.

The Capitals won their ninth consecutive game Sunday afternoon, crushing the Philadelphia Flyers 5-0 to move back into top spot in the Metro.

While based on length, that doesn't quite measure up to the Columbus Blue Jackets' 16-game ride, or even Philadelphia's 10-game run a few months back, but it may already be as impressive.

Because they're destroying everything in their path.

• The Capitals have outscored the competition 39-11 on their streak, which works out to 4.3 goals for and 1.2 against. This has pushed their per-game output beyond three goals, and dropped them to a league-low 1.91 against.
• In their last six games - each against a postseason team at the time - they have more shutouts (4) than goals allowed (3), none of which came at even strength. In fact, they haven't allowed at evens in nearly 300 minutes.
• Looking beyond the last nine games, the Capitals have taken 34 of a possible 40 points dating back six weeks.

Up next is Pittsburgh on the second of a back-to-back, with starter Braden Holtby on sufficient rest.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

WASHINGTON - Justin Williams and Matt Niskanen each scored two goals and Philipp Grubauer stopped all 24 shots he faced and the Washington Capitals extended their winning streak to nine in authoritative fashion by crushing the Philadelphia Flyers 5-0 on Sunday.

The Capitals lead the NHL with 63 points.

Despite a sluggish start, the Capitals came alive with four goals on seven shots in the first seven minutes of the third period to turn the game into a laugher.

Washington has outscored its opponents 40-11 during the streak and passed the Columbus Blue Jackets for first place in the Metropolitan Division, Eastern Conference, and the league.

Andre Burakovsky also scored a power-play goal for the Capitals, who haven't allowed an even-strength goal in six games.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With tap-ins off two gorgeous no-look passes, Justin Williams bookended a four-goal outburst across five minutes for the Washington Capitals in Sunday's third period versus the Philadelphia Flyers.

Here's Williams' first goal, set up with a deceptive Marcus Johansson feed from behind the net.

Then Nicklas Backstrom (appropriately honored pregame for his 500th helper) teed up the second, knocking a puck back between his legs to Williams at the back post.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Include St. Louis Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock in with the list that believes the NHL would have a better product without the "loser point."

Hitchcock admits that in the final stages of tight games, the mindset shifts from pursuing the full freight, to ensuring his team secures at least one point to avoid losing ground.

"I like when you are playing all out, all the way," Hitchcock told Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe. "But I've got to tell you as a coach, if there's five minutes left in the game, and it's tied, I'm not necessarily thinking about winning it. I want at least a point.

"A lot of coaches think like that. We have to think like that. Because to get zero points in a tie game with 10 minutes left is devastating."

This counterproductive feedback loop is arguably killing the NHL. The more overtimes and shootouts, the tighter teams remain bunched in the standings. Meanwhile, because nearly every team is in contention, they must continue to err on the side of caution, as more often than not coming away with nothing will result in a slip in the standings.

Many believe there's an easy fix to this conundrum. If regulation wins become valued at three points, suddenly the payoff obscures the consequence. For this reason, teams would be much more willing to attack.

The Blues included.

"If you can put more value in (a regulation win), I am all for it," Hitchcock said. "But to me, right now when there's 10 minutes left in a hockey game I want that one point, at least.

"I've got to have it. That's how you get in the playoffs."

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrew Shaw argues not guilty.

Speaking with Amanda Stein of TSN 690 on Sunday, the Montreal Canadiens forward admitted his blindside hit on New York Rangers forward Jesper Fast was "maybe half a second late."

Related: Andrew Shaw's laundry list of transgressions

Shaw also noted that he disagreed with being tossed from the game following the hit, before adding that he has yet to receive a call from the NHL Department of Player Safety.

It was Shaw's first game back after missing the previous 14 matches with a concussion.

Against the Rangers, Shaw was thrown out late in the first period, but not before being assessed an interference major, a game misconduct, and five for fighting after trading punches with Rangers forward J.T. Miller.

In all, Shaw wrapped the evening with just 5:20 in ice time, plus 22 minutes in penalties.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

To say Eric Staal has found his game in Minnesota would be an understatement.

After agreeing to a three-year deal with the Wild, Staal headed to St. Paul in search of a fresh start after a few stale seasons in Carolina and a flop on Broadway following a late-season trade to the New York Rangers.

Wild coach Bruce Boudreau, also in his first season in Minnesota, raised the eyebrows of many with his offseason proclamation that Staal was due for a rebound with his new club.

"Maybe I'm out in left field, but I think Eric is going to have a great year," Boudreau said in August. "I think there's been circumstances for the last two years that haven't been well, but I am pretty sure that he is really excited about coming to Minny, and he is really excited about playing."

As it turns out, Boudreau was exactly right.

With an assist against the Dallas Stars on Saturday, Staal tallied his 39th point on the season - the same production as a year ago, except he did it 42 games earlier.

Staal played one extra game last season following his trade to New York.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Batten down the hatches. Here come the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Raleigh hockey club has climbed its way back into the postseason picture in hockey's toughest division. As of Sunday, the Hurricanes are just one point back of a playoff position. No easy feat, considering both wild-card slots are occupied by Metropolitan Division foes.

But this wasn't the case not long ago. As the calendar turned to December, the Hurricanes owned a 9-9-5 record through their first 23 games, outpacing only the New York Islanders in the East, as the team looked poised to extend its postseason drought to eight years.

The Hurricanes have not qualified for the playoffs since 2009, their lone appearance since winning it all in 2006.

But on Saturday, the Hurricanes pasted those same Islanders, sinking New York 7-4 before the Carolina faithful, as the Hurricanes pushed their record at PNC Arena to 15-4-1. Five forwards had multi-point nights, including winger Lee Stempniak, one of many key players for Carolina this season.

After scoring 51 points a year ago, a season split between Boston and New Jersey, Stempniak is on pace for another 40-plus point campaign. Not a bad free-agency bargain, coming in at $2.5 million.

There are several Hurricanes forwards to speak of, including winger Jeff Skinner. The 2011 rookie of the year is having a bounce-back season after a few so-so years in the Tar Heel State. With 35 points in 42 games, Skinner is on pace to top his career-best production set in his freshman campaign.

Related: It's time to appreciate what Jeff Skinner is doing for the Hurricanes

Indeed, things have turned around in Carolina in the past two months, with just six regulation losses through December and January. Collectively, the Hurricanes are 21-15-7, good for 49 points.

Skinner isn't the only Hurricane playing like his old self. After a slow start to the season, in which he captured just a single victory in his first six outings, netminder Cam Ward has found his game and has appeared in all but one game since the start of December. With an 18-12-6 mark on the season, alongside a .915 save percentage and 2.34 goals-against average, Ward is seeing his best numbers in five seasons.

The Hurricanes are the NHL's fifth-youngest team, a fact no more apparent than on the Carolina blueline, which features four regulars under 24 years old. Veteran defender Ron Hainsey, 35, is the lone elder statesman on the back end.

Given that overall adolescence, it makes the Hurricanes' impact on the penalty kill even more impressive. If you're facing Carolina, you best score 5-on-5, as the Hurricanes are the NHL's best when down a man, allowing a goal against just 11.3 percent of the time when shorthanded. That ranks more than a full two points above the next best club, with the Bruins holding a 86.2 percent success rating.

While the play of Carolina is a surprise to many, don't count Hurricanes bench boss Bill Peters among those blown away.

"Our team has gotten better as we've gone along," Peters told reporters. "We're a better team now, whether we're on the road or at home. As the calendar clicks off, we're getting better as we go."

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers content team had some fun ahead of the latest Battle of Alberta, filming a spoof starring Craig MacTavish and the club's terrifying new mascot, Hunter.

In the short clip, MacTavish - who famously tore the tongue from the mouth of Calgary Flames mascot Harvey the Hound - prepares Hunter for the clash between the two mascots.

Of note: No mascots were violently beaten with a bat. At least, not on camera.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.

Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Sunday, Jan. 15 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):

Dynamic Duos

• C Nicklas Backstrom (53K) and RW T.J. Oshie (45K), Capitals (vs. Flyers): There's no overthinking things in pairing together two-thirds of Washington's productive first line (LW Alex Ovechkin and his 74K salary fails to make the cut). Backstrom and Oshie each had a goal and an assist in Friday's 6-0 rout of Chicago, and the Flyers have the third-worst team GAA (3.09) and the second-worst 5-on-5 save percentage.

• C Eric Staal (43K) and D Ryan Suter (36K), Wild (at Blackhawks): Minnesota is on a goal-scoring tear, having found the net 12 times over its last two games. Staal notched four points in that stretch and has found the score sheet in 14 of his last 15 games. His linemates are Charlie Coyle, a fellow C in Squad Up, and pricey LW Zach Parise (57K), so Suter gets the nod as Staal's partner. Suter has three points in his last two games and sees a massive 27:12 nightly workload.

• C Ryan Kesler (49K) and RW Jakub Silfverberg (48K), Ducks (vs. Blues): Two-thirds of Anaheim's second line at even strength, Kesler and Silfverberg rank first and fourth, respectively, in team scoring, and have combined for 11 points so far in January. The Blues have the NHL's third-worst 5-on-5 save percentage, and expected starting netminder Jake Allen has allowed three or more goals in five of his last six appearances.

Goalie Breakdown

• TARGET: Braden Holtby (98K), Capitals (vs. Flyers): Holtby is hard to ignore, given that he's won his last five starts, with three shutouts and a total of three goals allowed in that stretch. Philadelphia has lost its last eight road games, heightening Holtby's appeal in the earliest game of the day.

• BARGAIN: Devan Dubnyk (83K), Wild (at Blackhawks): A relative bargain, Dubnyk has only fared marginally worse on the road, holding a 1.85 GAA and a 10-3-3 record compared to 1.69 and 12-4-0 at home. He's won all three of his starts in January, and should be assured of plenty of goal support given his teammates' recent form.

• FADE: Steve Mason (83K), Flyers (at Capitals): Mason has beaten the Capitals once this season, though that outing came in Philadelphia. He's struggled on the road, holding a 3.09 GAA and winning just four of 15 starts. A meeting with the red-hot Holtby and the high-scoring Capitals isn't likely to go well for the former Calder Trophy winner.

• CONTRARIAN: John Gibson (93K), Ducks (vs. Blues): Gibson is nearly playing as well as Holtby, having won five of his last six starts, including two via shutout, but draws a tougher opponent in the Blues. The Ducks allow the eighth-fewest scoring chances against per 60 minutes, and Gibson's understudy, Jonathan Bernier, kept up the team's strong defensive play with a shutout on Saturday.

Bargain Plays

• RW Ryan Hartman (28K), Blackhawks (vs. Wild): Despite playing on the third line at even strength and seeing little in the way of power play time, Hartman has notched six points in his last five games, including a hat trick and a two-assist effort. Ranking second among Blackhawk forwards in Corsi For percentage (52.64), Hartman has managed to drive possession in his limited role.

• C Jori Lehtera (25K), Blues (at Ducks): On Sunday's small slate, viable bargain options are hard to come by, especially at C and LW. Lehtera has just 13 points in 38 games, but centers St. Louis' second line featuring high-scoring RW Vladimir Tarasenko at even strength. Lehtera scored on Saturday, and has notched a point in three of his last six games.

• D Jared Spurgeon (25K), Wild (at Blackhawks): The 5-foot-9 Spurgeon doesn't often feature on the Wild's top power play unit, but with 19 points in 37 games, offers some offensive punch from the back end. Spurgeon has seven points in his last eight games, and also averages nearly four combined blocks and shots on goal per game.

Top Fades

• C Henrik Sedin (59K), Canucks (vs. Devils): With one point and seven shots on goal in his last five games, name recognition and respect for his career must be the justification for Sedin's ranking as Squad Up's second-priciest center. The stingy Devils allow the ninth-fewest scoring chances against per 60 minutes, increasing the chances that Sedin will have another fruitless outing.

• RW Patrick Kane (86K), Blackhawks (vs. Wild): Kane is as reliable a scorer as there is, averaging exactly a point per game after 45 contests. He's priced so prohibitively high, though, that only a multi-point effort will allow him to live up to his salary. Against the NHL's leader in both GAA and save percentage (Dubnyk), that seems an unlikely proposition.

• D Shayne Gostisbehere (44K), Flyers (at Capitals): Gostisbehere was a healthy scratch for Saturday's game in Boston. While he could regain his place in the lineup for Sunday's clash in Washington, there's still a large degree of risk in selecting him. The healthy-again Mark Streit could monopolize power play duties, and there's of course the matter of facing a hot goaltender in the Capitals' Holtby.

Contrarian Options

• C Bo Horvat (57K), Canucks (vs. Devils): Vancouver's leader in goals (13) and points (30), Horvat likely won't garner too much fantasy attention thanks to a relatively high salary. He's been extremely consistent of late, recording at least a point in eight of his last nine games. He's also fared better at home, where he's scored 10 of his goals in 23 games.

• RW Justin Williams (40K), Capitals (vs. Flyers): A slow start that saw him record just four points in 21 games through November has contributed to Williams' underwhelming average of 13.1 fantasy points per game. Since December, he's turned things around, notching 10 goals and eight assists in 21 outings.

• LW Jason Zucker (38K), Wild (at Blackhawks): Despite the lack of regular power play time, Zucker has notched six points in as many games, including three goals. He may fly under the radar compared to some of the better known options at his position, but like the majority of his teammates, he's been finding the score sheet with regularity.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.