Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom each had
a goal and assist, as the Washington Capitals took their 13th consecutive win,
a 5-2 decision over the Atlanta Thrashers.
Michal Neuvirth made 43 saves in the victory, which extended what was already
a franchise-record streak. It also marked the first time an NHL team won 13 in
a row since the 2000-01 New Jersey Devils did so.
Alexander Semin and Jason Chimera scored 68 seconds apart in the third period,
while Mike Green scored on an empty net to secure the game for Washington,
which has a league-leading 86 points (40-12-6) and hasn't lost since January
12.
Ondrej Pavelec allowed four goals on 31 shots for Atlanta, which was playing
its first game since Thursday's blockbuster deal that sent star forward Ilya
Kovalchuk to the Devils.
Tobias Enstrom and Rich Peverley had the goals for the Thrashers, who have
lost their last three games.
Atlanta got on the scoreboard first, as the defenseman Enstrom followed a
Thrashers rush and batted in a loose puck just 2:46 into the game.
But the Caps evened the game on the power play later in the first period.
Ovechkin had broken his stick and briefly skated to the bench to get a new
one. Just a moment after he crossed the blue line on the right side, Ovechkin
one-timed a rocket past Pavelec with 6:19 left.
Backstrom made it a 2-1 contest 4 1/2 minutes into the middle period, as he
took an Ovechkin pass in the slot and scored on a wrister.
The score remained that way until the third period, when two quick scores gave
the Capitals firm control of the game.
A one-timer from Semin into the right side of the net at 3:52 put Washington
up by two, and shortly after the ensuing faceoff, Chimera had the puck alone
on the left side and raced up-ice.
Chimera skated into the left circle and blasted a slapshot that caromed off
Pavelec's shoulder into the right corner of the net, making it a 4-1 Caps
lead.
Atlanta got a goal back while shorthanded, as Semin accidentally kicked in the
rebound off Peverley's shot with 6:45 to play. But the Thrashers got no
closer, and Green's empty-netter with under two minutes to play sealed the
Caps' victory.
Game Notes
The Capitals play the Penguins on Sunday, and a win in that game would equal
the third-longest winning streak in NHL history. The 1929-30 Boston Bruins won
14 in a row...Atlanta forward Niclas Bergfors and defenseman Johnny Oduya, who
were acquired in the Kovalchuk trade, made their Thrashers debuts.
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