Is This Finally the Capitals' Year?

The Washington Capitals are nothing if not persistent.

In an NHL season of lengthy streaks, they added to the fun by stringing together 15 straight home victories.

And then, it seemed like the fun stopped. Dudes went dry in their California swing immediately afterward, losing all three games there to the Sharks, Kings, and Ducks. It was enough to make one wonder if their annual springtime of disappointment was setting in early this year.

But maybe there's more to the NHL's most frustrated winners this time around.

In late February, they dipped into the St Louis Blues' gradual dismantlement once again, acquiring top blueliner Kevin Shattenkirk, who joined TJ Oshie in reinforcing a roster that was already rich with talent but still seemed to need that je ne sais quoi to fulfill their ulitmate goal. 

They're currently on a six-game winning streak with a tilt upcoming tonight against the hapless Arizona Coyotes down in the desert.

Odds are they'll add to an impressive point total that has to be that way in order to survive. The NHL Met's a bitch:

That dogfight is what makes the Stanley Cup playoff's first round a daunting hurdle.

It's why the Caps out-bid Pittsburgh and the Rangers for Shattenkirk, making them by far the most balanced team in the league.

Of course, some said they were the most balanced last year and, as usual, they lost with the home ice advantage, this time to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

Do know that the Caps have long been more than Alexander Ovechkin, who's more than carried his weight:

The Riflin' Russian's notched 33 goals to date, while Oshie's chipped in 32, including this hatter two weeks ago against Tampa Bay:

The glue holding it all together up front is none other than Niklas Bãckström, putting in the hard yards by placing pucks on tape:

So the addition of Shattenkirk -- 11 assists and plus-4 in 13 games -- is a luxury now and no doubt a vital component in a couple of weeks, when the rubber really meets the road.