Capitals Hold Off Panthers

     The Florida Panthers returned from the three-week Olympic break with a 5-4 loss to the Washington Capitals on Thursday night at BB&T Center. The Cats have lost six of their last seven games and remain 15 points behind for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
     In the first period, Washington(28-23-9) came out on fire as they scored twice in the first nine minutes of the contest. On the Capitals first power-play attempt, Nicklas Backstrom passed the puck from the right circle to John Carlson at the blue line. His slapshot was stopped by Tim Thomas, however Troy Brouwer put in a backhand shot from the low slot for his 15th goal this year.
     The Caps would add to their lead at 8:10 when Alex Ovechkin sent a pass from the left-wing boards to Brooks Laich who scored on a one-time slapshot from the high slot.
     The two-goal margin was cut by Florida(22-30-7) with 4:33 left in the first. Jesse Winchester went down the right side into the right corner and placed a pass to the slot area where Tomas Fleischmann snapped in a one-timer by Braden Holtby for his sixth goal this season.
     The Cats pulled even with the Capitals just 40 seconds into the second period. Sean Bergenheim put a shot on net that was saved. Brad Boyes swooped in from the right side of the crease and scored on a backhand shot for his 16th goal of the campaign.
     The deadlock would not last long as Washington regained the lead 3-2 at 3:44. Martin Erat threw a centering pass from the left side that was saved. but Backstrom found a wide open net on the rebound with a wrist shot from the top of the crease.
     The Capitals scored on their second power play with 47 seconds remaining in the second. Backstrom put a cross-ice pass from the right corner to Ovechkin, his one-timer was stopped and Brouwer poked in the loose puck inside the blue paint for his second goal of the game.
     Florida mounted a comeback midway through the third period with two goals in 74 seconds to tie it up 4-4. They would score on their third power-play opportunity at 8:09 of the third period to pull within one goal. Brian Campbell fed a pass from the top of the zone to Drew Shore on the left wing and his slapshot went in with a screen in front by Jimmy Hayes.
     Boyes converted on his second goal of the game at 9:23 of the stanza. Nick Bjugstad passed the puck from the low right circle to Boyes in the low slot. His first shot was saved and he pounced on the rebound inside the crease to tie the game.
     Washington would once again take the lead with 4:27 to go in the third on the 41st goal of the season by Ovechkin. Brooks Laich controlled a loose puck on the right-wall boards and skated in through the right circle. He placed a cross-ice pass to Ovechkin and he blasted a one-time slapshot from the left circle face-off dot.