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Capitals off to best start in team history

Oct 19, 2011 - 2:01 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Tomas Vokoun stopped 20 shots to pick up his first shutout of the season, as the Washington Capitals recorded a 3-0 victory over the Florida Panthers.

Marcus Johansson, Alexander Semin and Jason Chimera each scored a goal for the Capitals, who have started the season with five straight wins for the first time in franchise history.

"Come April or May I won't be able to sit here and say, 'Hey, we were 5-0, isn't that great,'" said Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau, downplaying his club's hot start. "It's not going to hold a lot of weight."

The Panthers, playing their fourth road contest in five games, appeared sluggish throughout. They got 29 saves from Jacob Markstrom, who made his first NHL start.

A tripping infraction on Scottie Upshall put the Capitals on the power play early in the first period and Johansson capitalized, as his sharp-angle shot snuck through the legs of Markstrom for a 1-0 lead.

After a scoreless second period, Semin lit the lamplight early in the third, firing a wrist shot past Markstrom from the right wing to put the Capitals up by two.

The Panthers, coming off a 7-4 victory over the Lightning on Monday, failed to find their stride offensively. They placed just two shots on goal in the opening period and nine in the second and third, respectively.

"We knew that they were pretty hot coming in so we had to be up to the task," said Capitals defenseman Dennis Wideman.

Chimera added an empty-netter in the final minute to cap the scoring and seal the 45th shutout of Vokoun's career.

Game Notes

This was the first of six meetings between these Southeast Division rivals this season. They split the season series a year ago...Washington has won nine of its last 12 home games versus Florida.