From the get-go, it looked like the Washington Capitals' tilt with the Anaheim Ducks would turn into a high-scoring, run-and-gun affair — and that's exactly what happened. Thankfully for D.C., the Capitals were on the right side of it in the end thanks to Aliaksei Protas.

Protas completed his first career hat trick, and Pierre-Luc Dubois and Alex Ovechkin also pulled off three-point nights en route to a 7-4 win over Anaheim.

Here are all the takeaways from the team's fifth straight victory.

Capitals Shake Off Sleepy Starts

Washington hadn't been getting off to the starts it wanted of late, and on Wednesday, the team worked to change that.

Dylan Strome got the Capitals going early, getting on the board with his 20th goal of the season to extend his point streak to five games. Tom Wilson got the primary assist, setting a new single-season career high in points.

Though Anaheim responded with two quick goals shortly after, Washington didn't let up or fall into familiar habits that landed it in trouble over the last few games. Instead, the team kept the shots coming, and ultimately, it paid off, as Aliaksei Protas tied things up with a wicked shot from the inner slot.

It marked Protas' third goal in as many games and his 26th of the season, and ultimately, D.C. left the first outshooting Anaheim 19-8 and in strong position for success.

Capitals Emerge Victorious In Run & Gun Third Period With Ducks, Protas Gets First Hat Trick As Ovechkin Passes Up Chance At Empty Net

Up 3-2 on a goal from Pierre-Luc Dubois going into the final 20 minutes of play, the Capitals failed to lock down, and early on, fell into a run-and-gun contest with Anaheim as it turned into a shooting gallery.

Just 31 seconds after Pavel Mintyukov tied it in the third, Protas got his second of the game. Though Frank Vatrano would tie it soonafter, the fourth line took matters into its own hands to close the game out.

Nic Dowd drove to the net and buried Tom Wilson's rebound to make it 5-4, and minutes later, Anthony Beauvillier scored his first with his new team to make it a two-goal game.

Then, with just around 17 seconds to go and Lukas Dostal pulled, Alex Ovechkin passed up a chance at the empty net and got the puck ahead to Protas, who buried the ENG for his first career NHL hat trick and 28th goal of the season. He has five goals in his last three games.

Dubois finished with two assists for a three-point night of his own, and Ovechkin also had a trio of helpers en route to the win.

Top Shelf Takes

- Tom Wilson now has 16 points in his last 12 games and left early after taking a puck to the face. He left the ice bleeding.

- Brandon Duhaime also had two assists.