How Spencer Carbery turned his team around

Friday's 4-2 comeback over the Toronto Maple Leafs pushed Washington to 14-9-2 and stretched their win streak to three. It also capped a run of five victories in six games, after that ugly stumble against Tampa Bay last weekend.

That Lightning loss felt like a pivot point, because the Capitals looked slow, porous in the slot, and far too casual on breakouts.

Instead of shrugging, Carbery and the room treated it as a wake up call and tightened their five on five details immediately.

Speaking to reporter Tarik El-Bashir, Carbery admitted that rough stretch created real urgency, and said his players are not dummies about the Eastern standings.

He praised them for embracing this recent push and insisted, in classic coach speak, that Washington is finally doing a lot of winning things.

Jakob Chychrun, acquired last season and still only 27, has goals in five straight and a ten game point streak from the blue line.

The supporting cast has followed, with Anthony Beauvillier, Connor McMichael and Tom Wilson finding the net in this stretch and chipping in third period goals.

Alex Ovechkin is still hunting milestones, but lately he is also drawing defenders high and opening passing lanes that Beauvillier and McMichael are exploiting.

At 14-9-2, Washington sits firmly in the Eastern mix, but Carbery keeps reminding everyone that the conference is a different beast this season.

Logan Thompson has rebounded well after the Lightning debacle, giving up only three total goals in wins over Columbus and Toronto. Behind him, Charlie Lindgren continues to provide competent backup work, and Ethen Frank's speed helps both goalies see more low risk outside shots.

If this current push holds through December, the conversation around Washington might shift from plucky overachiever to legitimate problem for every Eastern contender.