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Wideman lifts Panthers over Capitals in OT

Jan 12, 2011 - 4:35 AM Sunrise, FL (Sports Network) - Dennis Wideman's power-play goal 2:51 into overtime lifted the Florida Panthers to a 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals at BankAtlantic Center.

Michael Santorelli, David Booth and Marty Reasoner also scored for Florida, which halted a three-game skid in the opener of its six-game homestand. Tomas Vokoun made 30 saves in the victory.

Marcus Johansson scored twice and Mike Knuble added a goal for the Capitals, who won the front end of this home-and-home set on Saturday and, despite this setback, have now earned at least one point in nine consecutive games (6-0-3).

Michal Neuvirth allowed four goals on 41 shots for Washington.

Caps defenseman Mike Green was whistled for hooking nearly a minute into the extra session and the Panthers went to work with the extra skater. With only six ticks remaining on the 4-on-3 advantage, Wideman found space in the slot and sent a wrist shot into the back of the cage.

"We worked the puck around and we had some good looks, but I knew we were running out of time (on the power play)," said Wideman. "I just tried to get in a lane to get a shot on net."

With the win, the Panthers halted a three-game home skid to the Capitals.

Florida opened the scoring midway through the first period with a 5-on-3 goal after Nicklas Backstrom and Knuble were both whistled for separate minors at the 8:33 mark. Stephen Weiss took a shot from the bottom of the right circle. Neuvirth made the save, but the rebound sat loose near the left post and Santorelli punched it in at 9:52.

Less than three minutes later, Florida led 2-0. Bryan McCabe fired a one-timer from the left point and the disc was deflected into the back of the net by Reasoner from atop the crease with 7:46 to go before the first intermission.

Another 5-on-3 marker at 6:48 of the second pushed the lead to three. Weiss held control inside the lower right circle and fired the puck toward the net before Booth redirected it past Neuvirth from the top of the crease.

The Caps got on the scoreboard midway through the second via Johansson's one- timer from the right circle on the back end of a give-and-go with Brooks Laich.

Several minutes later, Washington drew within 3-2 on Knuble's 10th goal of the season. Alex Ovechkin carried the puck down the left side and sent a perfect pass across the slot for Knuble, who ripped home a wrist shot from the lower right circle with 6:30 to play in the stanza.

In the third period, Washington capped its three-goal rally at the 7:12 mark. After a dump-in, Matt Hendricks swatted at the bouncing puck from along the goal line to the right of the net. The disc got caught up in sticks and skates at the near post before Johansson finally jammed it in.

"These slow starts have been costing us," said Caps forward Jay Beagle. "Coming back from a three-goal deficit is a positive, but we can't put ourselves in that situation."

Game Notes

The Panthers have won two of three over the Caps this season, after Washington won all six meetings last year...Capitals forward Alexander Semin did not play due to a lower-body injury...The Panthers ended 3-for-6 on the power play, while the Caps failed on all five of their chances with the extra skater...Johansson has five goals...Florida totaled 20 shots on goal in the opening period.