(Sports Network) - Alex Ovechkin scored twice in a 28-second span as the Washington Capitals (web | news) beat the San Jose Sharks for the first time in over 10 years with a 4-1 win at Verizon Center. The last time the Capitals defeated the Sharks was on February 20, 1999, a span of 11 straight losses. It also snapped a six-game losing streak at home against San Jose. Alexander Semin and Matt Bradley each notched a goal while Mike Knuble and Brendan Morrison each had two assists for the Capitals, who had dropped their previous four games. Jose Theodore started the game in net, but left after the end of the first period with an undisclosed injury. Semyon Varlamov finished the game between the pipes and got the win as he stopped all 15 shots he faced. Benn Ferriero scored the lone goal while Evgeni Nabokov stopped 32 shots for the Sharks, who have lost their last two contests.

Final Score: Colorado 3, Montreal 2

Montreal, QC (Sports Network) - Ryan O'Reilly's first NHL goal with 6:13 remaining in the third period proved to be the difference, as the Colorado Avalanche spoiled Montreal's 100th home opener with a 3-2 win over the Canadiens at Bell Centre. Kyle Cumiskey also tallied his first goal in the NHL and added an assist, while Milan Hejduk lit the lamp for the Avalanche, who have won three straight. Craig Anderson was solid in net, stopping 29-of-31 shots. Tomas Plekanec registered a goal and a helper, and Roman Hamrlik tallied for Montreal, which has dropped four in a row after winning its first two games of the season. Carey Price made 20 saves in defeat.



Final Score: Ottawa 7, Tampa Bay 1

Ottawa, ON (Sports Network) - Milan Michalek recorded the first hat trick of his career, as the Ottawa Senators handled the Tampa Bay Lightning, 7-1, at Scotiabank Place. Alex Kovalev, Alexandre Picard, and Nick Foligno each scored a goal for the Senators, who finished a four-game homestand with a 3-1-0 mark. Jarkko Ruutu had a goal and two assists, while Daniel Alfredsson added three helpers. Chris Kelly and Anton Volchenkov had two assists apiece. Pascal Leclaire stopped 16-of-17 shots for the victors. Ryan Malone had the lone score for the Lightning, who had a brief two-game winning streak snapped. Mike Smith allowed all seven goals on 35 shots.



Final Score: Detroit 5, Los Angeles 2

Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Nicklas Lidstrom notched two assists with the second helper giving him 1,000 points in his illustrious career to help the Detroit Red Wings take a 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. The six-time Norris Trophy winner got the 1,000th point of his career at the 3:24 mark of the third period. A left circle faceoff win by Henrik Zetterberg was won back to the point. Lidstrom gathered the puck and sent a hard pass down to the inside left circle for Zetterberg, who redirected the puck over the glove of Jonathan Quick. Lidstrom is now just the eighth defenseman in NHL history to reach the 1,000-point plateau. He joins Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey, Al MacInnis, Phil Housley, Larry Murphy, Denis Potvin and Brian Leetch. He needs 28 points to tie Leetch. Also, Lidstrom is the 74th player to reach 1,000 points. Brian Rafalski had a goal and an assist while Kirk Maltby, Tomas Holmstrom and Jonathan Ericsson each scored a goal for the Red Wings, who have won three of their last four. Chris Osgood made 24 saves in the win. Dustin Brown and Justin Williams each had a goal for the Kings, who have dropped their past two games. Quick allowed four goals on 31 shots in the loss.



Final Score: Chicago 3, Nashville 1

Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Tomas Kopecky's goal early in the second period proved to be the difference, as the Chicago Blackhawks downed the Nashville Predators, 3-1, in a battle between these two Central Division foes at the Sommet Center. Duncan Keith and Dustin Byfuglien each had a goal for the Blackhawks, who have won four in a row. Brent Seabrook had a pair of assists, while Cristobal Huet stopped 12-of-13 shots for the victors. Martin Erat scored the lone goal for the Predators, who have lost four straight games. Pekka Rinner turned aside 27-of-30 shots in defeat.



Final Score: Phoenix 3, St. Louis 2 (OT)

Glendale, AZ (Sports Network) - Ed Jovanovski scored 3:37 into overtime as Phoenix earned a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Shane Doan scored on the power play and Scottie Upshall also tallied for the Coyotes, who have won two straight following a two-game skid. Ilya Bryzgalov made 22 saves in the win, Phoenix's first at home this season. David Backes and Paul Kariya had the goals for the Blues, who have dropped three in a row since winning their opening two games to the season. Chris Mason stopped 31 shots. In the overtime, Vernon Fiddler shot the puck from a sharp angle on the left side. Mason made the save, but the puck bounced in the air in front. Jovanovski came charging down the slot and deflected the disc with the shaft of his stick past an out-of-position netminder. Officials spent a couple of minutes using video to review the goal.





Copyright 2009 The Sports Network
All rights reserved

 Email To Friend