On Sunday night, the Washington Capitals did the thinkable: defeating the Vegas Golden Knights on the road to earn their first pair of consecutive wins this month, and they did it on the strength of the Great Eight, Alex Ovechkin.

Scoring started as all scoring should start in any orderly universe: Alex Ovechkin from the faceoff dot during a power play. Jakob Chychrun doubled the lead with a sharp shot from the high slot made possible by a prompt pass from Dylan Strome. A very strong first period for Washington ended with an unfortunate but bonafide Freak Goal, a hard but lucky bounce off the end boards that went right to Brett Howden waiting at the goal mouth.

The Caps were much weaker in the second period, but they still outscored the Knights, bookending Keegan Kolesar's goal on a delayed penalty with a fast release by Jakub Vrana first and then Ovechkin netting his second of the night with a rush goal.

In the final minute, Alex Ovechkin completed his 31st career hat trick.

Putting aside some crummy turtling, the Caps were once again wonderful. Alex Ovechkin is so locked in right now; the intensity is palpable. At current pace he is set to pass Wayne Gretzky at 4:15 Tuesday afternoon.

I'm having a real good time this season. How about you? Answer quickly, as the Caps have to go to Utah right now, to play, I presume, the Utahns. See you tomorrow night.