GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: WASHINGTON (8-18) at FLORIDA (12-14)

NHL: WASHINGTON at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 2
FLORIDA 1 9:28 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 2
FLORIDA 1 4:24 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
WASHINGTON 1 0 1 2
FLORIDA 0 0 1 1 FINAL

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: WAS - BRIAN POTHIER 2 (ALEXANDER OVECHKIN) 3:53
2ND PRD: NONE
3RD PRD: FLA - BRANISLAV MEZEI 1 (OLLI JOKINEN) 2:49
WAS - ALEXANDER OVECHKIN 20 (MICHAEL NYLANDER, JEFF SCHULTZ)
4:38

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: WAS - 0 OF 2, FLA - 0 OF 4.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
WAS 16 17 10 43
FLA 7 8 10 25

GOALIES: WAS - BRENT JOHNSON
FLA - TOMAS VOKOUN

OFFICIALS: REF - DAVE JACKSON, WES MCCAULEY
LIN - MICHEL CORMIER, TIM NOWAK

ATT: NA</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
WASHINGTON 1 0 1 2
FLORIDA 0 0 1 1 FINAL

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: WAS - BRIAN POTHIER 2 (ALEXANDER OVECHKIN) 3:53
2ND PRD: NONE
3RD PRD: FLA - BRANISLAV MEZEI 1 (OLLI JOKINEN) 2:49
WAS - ALEXANDER OVECHKIN 20 (MICHAEL NYLANDER, JEFF SCHULTZ)
4:38

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: WAS - 0 OF 2, FLA - 0 OF 4.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
WAS 16 17 10 43
FLA 7 8 10 25

GOALIES: WAS - BRENT JOHNSON
FLA - TOMAS VOKOUN

OFFICIALS: REF - DAVE JACKSON, WES MCCAULEY
LIN - MICHEL CORMIER, TIM NOWAK

ATT: NA</div>

 

SUNRISE, Florida (Ticker) -- Alex Ovechkin was tired of comingclose.


Ovechkin scored the decisive goal early in the third period asthe Washington Capitals posted a 2-1 victory over the FloridaPanthers on Saturday.


Defenseman Brian Pothier scored the game's initial tally andBrent Johnson stopped 24 shots for Washington, which snapped athree-game losing streak.


The Capitals also reversed their luck against the Panthers, whohad beaten Washington three previous times this season - all byone goal.


In the teams' most recent meeting on Wednesday, the contest wentto a shootout before Stephen Weiss won it in the 11th round,when he skated in and beat netminder Olaf Kolzig with abackhander.


In this one, Washington led, 1-0, until Panthers blue-linerBranislav Mezei wristed a shot through traffic and past theglove of Johnson just 2:49 into the third session. It was thedefenseman's first goal of the season and just the fourth of hisseven-year career.


However, just two minutes later, Ovechkin took matters into hisown hands. The 2006 Calder Trophy winner fired a shot fromdirectly to the right of the net, squeezing the puck by theright foot of goalie Tomas Vokoun to put the Capitals ahead.

It was Ovechkin's 20th goal of the season and gave him six inhis last five contests.


Washington led by one goal for nearly 40 minutes when Pothier'sslap shot from just above the right faceoff circle went betweenVokoun's legs at 3:53 of the first period.


The two goals were enough for Johnson, who despite suiting up innet for the first time since November 16 stopped all 15 shotshe faced over the first two sessions before knocking away ninein the third.


Vokoun made 41 saves - two shy of his season high - for thePanthers, who lost for the first time in five home meetings withthe Capitals.

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
WASHINGTON 2
FLORIDA 1</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
WASHINGTON 1 0 1 2
FLORIDA 0 0 1 1 FINAL

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: WAS - BRIAN POTHIER 2 (ALEXANDER OVECHKIN) 3:53
2ND PRD: NONE
3RD PRD: FLA - BRANISLAV MEZEI 1 (OLLI JOKINEN) 2:49
WAS - ALEXANDER OVECHKIN 20 (MICHAEL NYLANDER, JEFF SCHULTZ)
4:38

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: WAS - 0 OF 2, FLA - 0 OF 4.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
WAS 16 17 10 43
FLA 7 8 10 25

GOALIES: WAS - BRENT JOHNSON
FLA - TOMAS VOKOUN

OFFICIALS: REF - DAVE JACKSON, WES MCCAULEY
LIN - MICHEL CORMIER, TIM NOWAK

ATT: 14,333</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Washington 1 0 1 --2
Florida 0 0 1 --1
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Washington, Brian Pothier 2 (Alexander
Ovechkin), 3:53. Penalties: J Bouwmeester, Fla (hooking), 11:19; B
Allen, Fla (holding), 15:38.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: A Semin, Was (hooking), 8:23; A Ovechkin,
Was (), 12:20; A Ovechkin, Was (), 14:27.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Florida, Branislav Mezei 1 (Olli Jokinen),
2:49. 3, Washington, Alexander Ovechkin 20 (Michael Nylander, Jeff
Schultz), 4:38. Penalties: B Laich, Was (holding), 19:55.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Washington 16 17 10 --43
Florida 7 8 10 --25
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Washington - 0 of 2, Florida - 0 of 4. Goalies
: Washington, Brent Johnson (25 shots, 24 saves; record: 2-4-1).
Florida, Tomas Vokoun (43 shots, 41 saves; record: 11-11-0). A:
14,333. Referees: Dave Jackson, Wes Mccauley. Linesmen: Michel
Cormier, Tim Nowak.</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
WASHINGTON 1 0 1 --2
FLORIDA 0 0 1 --1
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Washington, Brian Pothier 2 (Alexander
Ovechkin), 3:53. Penalties: J Bouwmeester, Fla (hooking), 11:19; B
Allen, Fla (holding), 15:38.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: A Semin, Was (hooking), 8:23; A Ovechkin,
Was (), 12:20; A Ovechkin, Was (), 14:27.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Florida, Branislav Mezei 1 (Olli Jokinen),
2:49. 3, Washington, Alexander Ovechkin 20 (Michael Nylander, Jeff
Schultz), 4:38. Penalties: B Laich, Was (holding), 19:55.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
WASHINGTON 16 17 10 --43
FLORIDA 7 8 10 --25
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: WAS - 0 of 2, FLA - 0 of 4. Goalies :
Washington, Brent Johnson (25 shots, 24 saves; record: 2-4-1).
Florida, Tomas Vokoun (43 shots, 41 saves; record: 11-11-0). A:
14,333. Referees: Dave Jackson, Wes Mccauley. Linesmen: Michel
Cormier, Tim Nowak.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

WASHINGTON FLORIDA
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
M Bradley 0 0 even 3 D Booth 0 0 even 3
M Pettinger 0 0 even 4 G Campbell 0 0 even 0
N Backstrom 0 0 -1 3 O Jokinen 0 1 even 5
B Pothier 1 0 +2 2 R Dvorak 0 0 even 1
B Laich 0 0 even 4 J Stumpel 0 0 -1 1
M Jurcina 0 0 even 0 N Horton 0 0 even 1
V Kozlov 0 0 +2 4 G Murray 0 0 even 0
S Morrisonn 0 0 -1 1 V Peltonen 0 0 even 3
A Semin 0 0 -1 1 B Mezei 1 0 +1 4
T Poti 0 0 even 4 R Zednik 0 0 -1 1
D Steckel 0 0 even 1 J Cullimore 0 0 even 0
T Fleischmann 0 0 -1 0 R Salei 0 0 +1 0
M Green 0 0 -1 1 J Bouwmeester 0 0 -2 3
Q Laing 0 0 even 2 B Allen 0 0 -2 0
J Schultz 0 1 +2 1 K Kreps 0 0 even 1
A Ovechkin 1 1 +2 7 A Stewart 0 0 even 0
D Brashear 0 0 even 3 S Montador 0 0 even 0
M Nylander 0 1 +2 2 R Olesz 0 0 -1 2
C Clark GROIN S Weiss FLU
J Erskine HEALTHY
S Eminger HEALTHY</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
WASHINGTON 2
FLORIDA 1</div>

 

SUNRISE, Florida (Ticker) -- Alex Ovechkin was tired of comingclose.


Ovechkin scored the decisive goal early in the third period asthe Washington Capitals posted a 2-1 victory over the FloridaPanthers on Saturday.


Defenseman Brian Pothier scored the game's initial tally andBrent Johnson stopped 24 shots for Washington, which snapped athree-game losing streak.


"It's about time something good happened," Capitals interimcoach Bruce Boudreau said. "How many chances did we have when(Tomas) Vokoun stoned us? We needed a break. If you saw lastnight's game, many things went the wrong in that for us aswell."


The Capitals also reversed their luck against the Panthers, whohad beaten Washington three previous times this season - all byone goal.


"It's really nice to return the favor," said Johnson, whostarted in net for the first time since November 16. "We havebeen the stronger team a couple of nights, but it's a matter ofgetting bounces. Tonight, we got them."


In the teams' previous meeting on Wednesday, the contest went toa shootout before Stephen Weiss won it in the 11th round, whenhe skated in and beat netminder Olaf Kolzig with a backhander.

"We probably shouldn't have won that game in Washington,"Panthers captain Olli Jokinen admitted.


In this one, Washington led, 1-0, until Panthers blue-linerBranislav Mezei wristed a shot through traffic and past theglove of Johnson just 2:49 into the third session. It was thedefenseman's first goal of the season and just the fourth of hisseven-year career.


However, just two minutes later, Ovechkin took matters into hisown hands. The 2006 Calder Trophy winner fired a shot fromdirectly to the right of the net, squeezing the puck by theright foot of Vokoun to put the Capitals ahead.


"I tried to shoot the puck for a rebound for (Viktor) Kozlov andit just (was a) lucky (shot) that went into the net," Ovechkinsaid. "I was surprised, I didn't expect it to get in there."

It was Ovechkin's 20th goal of the season and gave him six inhis last five contests.


"It was a lucky goal," Ovechkin said. "Sometimes we don't haveluck. Right now, we have luck, and tonight, we deserved towin."


Washington led by one goal for nearly 40 minutes when Pothier'sslap shot from just above the right faceoff circle went betweenVokoun's legs at 3:53 of the first period.


The two goals were enough for Johnson, who stopped all 15 shotshe faced over the first two sessions before knocking away ninein the third.


"We took it to them," Johnson said. "We didn't give them achance to get anything going. That goal (by Mezei) was a littlebit of a screwy kind of goal. That goal (off a faceoff) comesat a time where guys are pulling up their socks. We came rightback and scored soon after."


"They worked harder than us, that's the bottom line," Jokinensaid. "We worked hard to get back to .500 and I think we fooledourselves. The Caps played last night and traveled all night,but they come into our building and outwork us. It'sembarrassing."


Vokoun made 41 saves - two shy of his season high - for thePanthers, who lost for the first time in five home meetings withthe Capitals.


"The effort was not there," Panthers coach Jacques Martin said."The bottom line in this league is that every game is a battle.You have to be prepared to go to war, and our guys did notwant to pay the price."

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
WASHINGTON 1 0 1 2
FLORIDA 0 0 1 1 FINAL

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: WAS - BRIAN POTHIER 2 (ALEXANDER OVECHKIN) 3:53
2ND PRD: NONE
3RD PRD: FLA - BRANISLAV MEZEI 1 (OLLI JOKINEN) 2:49
WAS - ALEXANDER OVECHKIN 20 (MICHAEL NYLANDER, JEFF SCHULTZ)
4:38

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: WAS - 0 OF 2, FLA - 0 OF 4.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
WAS 16 17 10 43
FLA 7 8 10 25

GOALIES: WAS - BRENT JOHNSON
FLA - TOMAS VOKOUN

OFFICIALS: REF - DAVE JACKSON, WES MCCAULEY
LIN - MICHEL CORMIER, TIM NOWAK

ATT: 14,333</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
WASHINGTON 2
FLORIDA 1</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Washington 1 0 1 --2
Florida 0 0 1 --1
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Washington, Brian Pothier 2 (Alexander
Ovechkin), 3:53. Penalties: J Bouwmeester, Fla (hooking), 11:19; B
Allen, Fla (holding), 15:38.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: A Semin, Was (hooking), 8:23; A Ovechkin,
Was (high sticking), 12:20; A Ovechkin, Was (cross checking), 14:27.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Florida, Branislav Mezei 1 (Olli Jokinen),
2:49. 3, Washington, Alexander Ovechkin 20 (Michael Nylander, Jeff
Schultz), 4:38. Penalties: B Laich, Was (holding), 19:55.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Washington 16 17 10 --43
Florida 7 8 10 --25
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Washington - 0 of 2, Florida - 0 of 4. Goalies
: Washington, Brent Johnson (25 shots, 24 saves; record: 2-4-1).
Florida, Tomas Vokoun (43 shots, 41 saves; record: 11-11-0). A:
14,333. Referees: Dave Jackson, Wes Mccauley. Linesmen: Michel
Cormier, Tim Nowak.</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
WASHINGTON 1 0 1 --2
FLORIDA 0 0 1 --1
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Washington, Brian Pothier 2 (Alexander
Ovechkin), 3:53. Penalties: J Bouwmeester, Fla (hooking), 11:19; B
Allen, Fla (holding), 15:38.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: A Semin, Was (hooking), 8:23; A Ovechkin,
Was (high sticking), 12:20; A Ovechkin, Was (cross checking), 14:27.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Florida, Branislav Mezei 1 (Olli Jokinen),
2:49. 3, Washington, Alexander Ovechkin 20 (Michael Nylander, Jeff
Schultz), 4:38. Penalties: B Laich, Was (holding), 19:55.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
WASHINGTON 16 17 10 --43
FLORIDA 7 8 10 --25
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: WAS - 0 of 2, FLA - 0 of 4. Goalies :
Washington, Brent Johnson (25 shots, 24 saves; record: 2-4-1).
Florida, Tomas Vokoun (43 shots, 41 saves; record: 11-11-0). A:
14,333. Referees: Dave Jackson, Wes Mccauley. Linesmen: Michel
Cormier, Tim Nowak.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

WASHINGTON FLORIDA
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
M Bradley 0 0 even 3 D Booth 0 0 even 3
M Pettinger 0 0 even 4 G Campbell 0 0 even 0
N Backstrom 0 0 -1 3 O Jokinen 0 1 even 5
B Pothier 1 0 +2 2 R Dvorak 0 0 even 1
B Laich 0 0 even 4 J Stumpel 0 0 -1 1
M Jurcina 0 0 even 0 N Horton 0 0 even 1
V Kozlov 0 0 +2 4 G Murray 0 0 even 0
S Morrisonn 0 0 -1 1 V Peltonen 0 0 even 3
A Semin 0 0 -1 1 B Mezei 1 0 +1 4
T Poti 0 0 even 4 R Zednik 0 0 -1 1
D Steckel 0 0 even 1 J Cullimore 0 0 even 0
T Fleischmann 0 0 -1 0 R Salei 0 0 +1 0
M Green 0 0 -1 1 J Bouwmeester 0 0 -2 3
Q Laing 0 0 even 2 B Allen 0 0 -2 0
J Schultz 0 1 +2 1 K Kreps 0 0 even 1
A Ovechkin 1 1 +2 7 A Stewart 0 0 even 0
D Brashear 0 0 even 3 S Montador 0 0 even 0
M Nylander 0 1 +2 2 R Olesz 0 0 -1 2
C Clark GROIN S Weiss FLU
J Erskine HEALTHY
S Eminger HEALTHY</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON AT FLORIDA
NOTE: RESENDING BOX TO CORRECT PENALTY MINUTES FOR
OVECHKIN.</div>