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Good analysis:

Capitals can go beyond Ovechkin
by MIKE CHEN, Special to FOXSports.com
Updated: April 11, 2008, 11:36 PM EST
Alexander Ovechkin took to the ice for a playoff game for the first time and ended up scoring a game-winner for the Washington Capitals.

But it's important to remember that the Caps, as much as they're identified with Ovechkin, are actually a pretty good team. Yes, all eyes are on Ovehkin, but this Washington team is much deeper than a lot of people give them credit for.

What surrounds Ovechkin and his setup man Nicklas Backstrom to make these Caps so dangerous? Let's take a look.

Mike Green: One year ago, Mike Green was just another run-of-the-mill defensive prospect. With 12 points in his first season on a pretty awful Washington team, no one outside of Green's family probably noticed him. What changed from his meek point total to a jaw-dropping 18 goals?

Well, it sure helps that his forward core is much better. However, one of the most telling stats about Green isn't something that's usually noticed. In 2006-07, Green had 68 shots on goal. In 2007-08, Green's shot total almost went up four-fold, finishing the season at 234, putting him among the league leaders.

His nose for the net, good defensive sensibility, strong passing, and two goals in Game 1 should make everyone forget about the injured foot that tarnished his rookie campaign.

Sergei Fedorov and Alexander Semin: The "other" Alex in Washington was coming off a sophomore season where he put up 38 goals. Unfortunately, the road's not always smooth when it comes to developing NHL careers, and Semin dropped from nearly a point a game to a season .67 points per game.

However, something changed in Semin with the arrival of veteran Sergei Fedorov.

While Fedorov isn't the same guy who won the Hart Trophy in the '90s, he's still one of the smartest players around and his skating is still top notch. The defensively-conscious Fedorov has offered a calming, experienced presence to the ice, and observers of Washington's second line noticed that a nice chemistry was developing between Semin and Fedorov.

The duo started to develop an innate sense of where the other was on the ice. More important, Fedorov has been more than happy to be a mentor to Semin, helping him through a season where things didn't go exactly the way Semin wanted. The result? A fast, effective second line that is ready to surprise any team that focuses solely on stopping Ovechkin.

Cristobal Huet and Olaf Kolzig: Take one franchise goalie with Stanley Cup final experience, add in an established #1 goalie, and you get enough depth in net to make any squad feel safe. Kolzig has been relegated to a backup role, but he's said all the right things in the press about being a team player — and at age 38, why not? The Caps know that if they need Kolzig, he's got enough experience and skill to be a steady presence in the crease.

As for Huet, his numbers have been outstanding since landing in Washington: a stellar .936 save percentage and a mind-boggling 1.63 goals-against average. Huet's simply been spectacular since arriving in D.C., and one has to wonder how bad the goalie-less L.A. Kings feel about giving up Huet all those years ago.

Brooks Laich: Many national readers still may not know who Brooks Laich is. The three-year veteran is a sixth-round checker who just happened to pot 21 goals; Laich is currently the Caps' third-line center and provides coach Bruce Boudreau with a scoring threat at almost all times on the ice.

Speed, tenacity, and yes, depth; these Caps may be this year's Cinderella story but they've got the guns to actually do some damage. Expect a physical, nasty battle with Philadelphia starting tonight; just make sure you don't only watch Ovechkin on the ice.