WASHINGTON (AP) ― Just like the old days. The Washington Capitals are in first place, and Alex Ovechkin is tied for the NHL’s goal-scoring lead.

Nicklas Backstrom poured cold water on that kind of thinking in a hurry.

“It doesn’t matter if it feels that way, because it depends how it is in the playoffs,” the Capitals center said. “And we weren’t that successful in the playoffs.”

True, the Capitals teams from those “old days” ― which, in this case, is just a few years ago ― always collapsed in the postseason, but this year’s team was in serious danger of not making the playoffs at all. They have now rallied to put themselves in the driver’s seat, moving two points clear in first place in the Southeast Division with Sunday’s 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“Now we’re back on track,” Ovechkin said. “And it’s good.”

Harking back to his MVP days, Ovechkin scored his 24th and 25th goals to tie the Lightning’s Steven Stamkos for the top spot in the league. Ovechkin has 16 goals in 14 games, including a total of five in back-to-back games over the weekend.

John Carlson and Joel Ward also scored for the Capitals, who have won four straight and eight of 10. Washington is two points ahead of the Winnipeg Jets in the Southeast race with a game in hand. Michal Neuvirth, making his first start since March 16, had 28 saves, including a pair of point-blank one-on-one stops against Vincent Lecavalier.

Blues 1, Red Wings 0

Stars 5, Sharks 4

Panthers 2, Senators 1

Wild 3, Blue Jackets 0

Blackhawks 5, Predators 3

Sabres 3, Devils 2

Ducks 4, Kings 3