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Caps top Senators with 3 goals in third period

Jan 17, 2011 - 1:56 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - John Carlson tallied the go-ahead goal eight minutes in to the third period as Washington used a three-goal third period to defeat Ottawa, 3-1, at Verizon Center.

Brooks Laich and Jason Chimera also lit the lamp for the Capitals, who snapped a three-game slide. Michal Neuvirth gave up one goal on 23 shots, but had six saves in the final period to preserve the win.

"When you're down 1-0 it's good to come back," Chimera said. "You can just see the weight come off, we got the big monkey off our back once we scored. Then we started to get some good chances."

Mike Fisher scored the lone goal for the Senators, who continued to spiral downward with their eighth loss in nine games. Brian Elliott gave up three goals on nine shots in the third period and ended with 23 saves.

"In so many of our losses we played well but we just can't score on our chances,' said Sens head coach Cory Clouston. "Our guys worked hard but we didn't score on those chances and that made every mistake we had that much worse."

Washington knotted the score with 12:45 left on Laich's ninth goal of the season. The equalizer was a result of the Capitals' strong forechecking behind the net. Ottawa coughed up the puck and Laich, from the slot, slapped the loose disc under the crossbar for a 1-1 game.

Just 45 seconds later, Washington went on top thanks to an offensive-zone faceoff win following a Milan Michalek cross-checking penalty. Nicklas Backstrom won the draw and popped the puck back to Carlson, who blasted it past Elliott from the point.

The Caps collected an insurance goal with 6:29 left in the game after Chimera took a David Steckel pass and charged the net from the left corner. Just before reaching the crease, he chipped the puck off of Elliott's shoulder and it trickled into the net.

The Senators notched the first goal just 72 seconds into the contest with a strong attack at the doorstep. After several stabs at the loose puck, Fisher finally chipped in a backhand past Neuvirth.

Neither team was able to find the back of the net during the second stanza despite several excellent scoring chances. The Senators won the shooting battle for the period, 12-8.

Game Notes

Backstrom has an assist in seven of the last 10 games...The Caps own the season series 3-0...Ottawa hosts Anaheim on Tuesday while Washington starts a three-game road trip at Philadelphia on Tuesday.