The Capitals announced today that Captain Alex Ovechkin & Defenseman Dennis Wideman were named to the 2012 NHL All-Star game.

This is the 26 year old Ovechkin’s fifth consecutive all-star game, which ties Peter Bondra for the club record, and he currently has 17 goals, which leads the team, 16 assists and 33 points.  Ovechkin also has 133 hits which is second on the team and is a -8 on the season.  Ovechkin is tied at 47th ranked in the NHL in points, tied 18th in goals and tied 96th in assists.

For the 28 year old Wideman, this will be his first all-star game in his seventh NHL season.  Wideman has 29 points, which is fifth among defenseman, eight goals, which is tied fourth among defenseman and 21 assists, which is tied fifth among defenseman.  Wideman, who is a -3 on the season, leads the Caps in time on ice averaging 24:08 per game.  Wideman is critical on the power play and has four goals and eight assists with the extra man this season.

One Capital who didn’t receive the All-Star nod was forward Nicklas Backstrom.  Backstrom has 13 goals, 29 assists, which leads the team, and 42 points, which leads the team, on the season and is tied 13th in the NHL this season in points and tied sixth in the NHL in assists.  Backstrom though hasn’t played since January 3rd after getting elbowed in the head from Rene Bourque.

The 2012 NHL All-Star game takes place January 29th in Ottawa, Ontario.