Ovie Hits 100 Points As Caps Top Preds

[March 19, 2008]  NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Alexander Ovechkin had a goal and two assists to lead the Washington Capitals to a 4-2 win over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night.

Ovechkin's 58th goal was an empty-netter and Alexander Semin, Nicklas Backstrom and Matt Bradley added first-period goals for Washington, which tied a season high with its fourth straight victory.

Ovechkin also earned his 100th point of the season. He is the first Capital to record 100 points in a season twice.

Washington trails the eighth-place Philadelphia Flyers by two points in the Eastern Conference standings. The Capitals pulled within three points of the Southeast Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes, who were idle on Tuesday.

The loss extended Nashville's home losing streak to five games. The fading Predators failed to make up any ground on Calgary, Vancouver, or Colorado, who are all four points ahead of Nashville for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot.

Washington opened the scoring at 6:49 of the first period on a power-play goal by Semin.

He carried the puck from the left boards into the low slot, where he fired a wrist shot over the glove of Nashville goaltender Dan Ellis. Ovechkin assisted on the goal.

Just over three minutes later, Backstrom put the Capitals in front 2-0 with his 12th goal of the season on another assist from Ovechkin.

Ovechkin carried the puck along the left side below the goal line. Before reaching the back of the Nashville net, he sent a backhand pass to Backstrom in the low slot. Backstrom's initial shot was denied by Ellis, but he was able to backhand the rebound by Ellis.

Bradley scored at 14:40 of the first to make it 3-0.

Ellis' ill-advised long clearing pass attempt was intercepted by Brooks Laich. Laich found Bradley in front of the Nashville net, where his wrist shot beat an out of position Ellis.

Chris Mason replaced Ellis after Bradley's goal, marking the 11th time Nashville has changed goaltenders in a game this season.

The Predators showed some life to start the second period. J.P. Dumont's power-play goal at 4:09 of the second made the score 3-1.

Predator captain Jason Arnott scored at 13:37 of the third to draw Nashville within one. On a delayed penalty to Washington, Arnott come onto the ice in place of Mason. His wrist shot from the left faceoff circle beat Washington goaltender Cristobal Huet on the far side.

Ovechkin scored an empty-netter at 19:56 of the third with a bank shot off of the boards from inside his own blue line that barely made it over the Nashville goal line.

Notes: The Capitals played their first game in Nashville since Feb. 13, 2004. ... Ovechkin has played in every current NHL building except for Chicago's United Center, where the Capitals play the Blackhawks on Wednesday night. ... Predator forward Darcy Hordichuk and defenseman Marek Zidlicky each played in their 300th career NHL game. ... Nashville has lost six consecutive home games twice in franchise history, most recently Feb. 26-March 21, 2002.

[Associated Press]

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