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D.C. Reunited: Backstrom, Ovechkin together again

Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom

Nicklas Backstrom #19 and Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals talk during the second period against the Montreal Canadiens at Verizon Center on January 24, 2013 in Washington, DC. (January 23, 2013 - Source: Rob Carr/Getty Images North America)

The Dynamic Duo is back in Washington.

For now, anyway.

During Monday’s practice, Capitals head coach Barry Trotz put captain Alex Ovechkin on a line with longtime running mate Nicklas Backstrom, suggesting the pair could be back together when Washington plays Detroit on Wednesday night.

“I just wanted to change it up, change the thought process a little bit,” Trotz said, per NHL.com. “I think we can be better in some areas. I haven’t put [Backstrom], Osh [T.J. Oshie] and Ovi together to see how that looks.”

For most of this year, Oshie and Ovechkin have been centered by Evgeny Kuznetsov, while Backstrom -- who missed the start of the year recovering from hip surgery -- started out with Justin Williams and Marcus Johansson, but has skated with a variety of wingers.

Backstrom and Ovechkin have spent a good chunk of their careers playing alongside each other, and have enjoyed some tremendous success. This includes the banner 2009-10 campaign, when both eclipsed the 100-point plateau.

The reunion could spark Ovechkin to break out of his recent mini-slump. He’s scoreless over the last three games, remaining tied with Sergei Fedorov for most goals by a Russian (483) in NHL history.

In his last two games, No. 8 has mustered just five shots on goal.