Bodog Beat

Alex Ovechkin (L) and Nick Backstrom (R) celebrate scoring against the Buffalo Sabres. (AP Images)

Is there any debate who the best player in the National Hockey league is right now?

If anybody says someone other than Alexander Ovechkin, they're dead wrong.

Ovechkin scored his 53rd and 54th goals of the year – making it six in his last three games – as the Washington Capitals scored a crucial 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres to keep their playoff hopes alive.

While he was kept in check for a good portion of the evening, Ovechkin simply buried Buffalo when opportunities were presented to him. A breakaway feed in the 1st period – on a nice feed from rookie Swedish linemate Nick Backstrom – was matched with a half-break in the third that Alexander the Great slammed past Ryan Miller. The Sabres were caught on an awful line change on the third goal, allowing AO to score the insurance marker while Buffalo was carrying the play.

Ales Kotalik scored his 20th goal of the season for the Sabres in a losing effort.

Washington came into this contest at -105 on the moneyline, while the Sabres were listed at -115.

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