Takeaways: Ovechkin Adds To NHL Scoring Lead Before Leaving With Injury, Capitals Take Eastern Conference Lead With Big Win Over Utah

The Capitals captain was hurt during a knee-on-knee collision with Jack McBain.

The Washington Capitals had a lot to show on this road trip after some recent inconsistency. They delivered and completed a dominant west coast swing with a convincing performance against Utah Hockey Club, powered once again by Alex Ovechkin, but now, the attention turns to his health after leaving the game with injury.

Ovechkin scored twice before being hurt on a knee-on-knee collision in the third period, and the Capitals kept their offense going in a dominant 6-2 win over Utah.

Here are all the takeaways from the victory as D.C. advances to 7-0-0 against the Western Conference this year.

Alex Ovechkin can't be stopped. The 39-year-old is playing some of the best hockey of his career and getting to the right areas and making the most of every shot on net, and he kept that going in Salt Lake City.

Ovechkin struck twice — once at even strength and later on the power play — to take sole possession of the NHL's goal-scoring lead with 15 on the season. Connor Ingram also became the 178th netminder he's scored on, tying him with Jaromir Jagr with the most goalies scored on in NHL history.

However, there's significant concern for him after he left the game early in the third period with an apparent left leg injury. Ovechkin was skating when he collided knee-on-knee with Jack McBain, one of Utah's goal scorers. He went down in pain and needed help getting up before heading down the tunnel. Though he tried to skate on it during a media timeout, he ultimately retired to the dressing room for the night.

Per head coach Spencer Carbery, Ovechkin is currently being evaluated and the team will have more information on its off day on Tuesday. Ovechkin suffered a similar injury last season when he collided with Jordan Staal and hurt his left leg, and did not miss significant time.

In addition to Alex Ovechkin, his linemates, Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas, are continuing to enjoy hot starts to their respective seasons.

Strome added a goal and assist to increase his total to 28 points through 18 games this season. He ranks fourth in the league in points this season, and his 22 assists sit third.

The 27-year-old, who is on pace for 127 points, has points in five straight and has only failed to find the scoresheet twice this season. He's playing with confidence and consistency, and it's paying off.

Then, there's Protas, who added his seventh goal of the season and continues to stay hot and produce at a point-per-game pace. He has found the scoresheet in four of his last five.

Beyond the top line, though, the entire roster is producing. Nic Dowd and Brandon Duhaime also scored, and the Capitals have scored six or more goals in six of their first 18 games this season. Last season, Washington had just five games with at least six goals.

The Capitals also had a strong game on the special teams front. 

Washington scored on the power play for the third straight game and now has power-play goals in three of the last four.

However, it was the penalty kill that really stole the show. The Capitals' PK, which came into Monday's contest ranked as the fourth-best in the league, bolstered its numbers, shutting down all seven PP opportunities for Utah.

The penalty kill now sits at 87.7 percent, good for the third-best in the league.

Charlie Lindgren also had a strong showing with 24 saves on 26 shots (.923 save percentage), and made several impressive stops.

- Props to Tom Wilson for sticking up for Ovechkin and dropping the gloves with McBain.

- Lars Eller picked up an assist for his first point since returning to the Capitals.