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Capitals edge Panthers in OT

Feb 13, 2013 - 4:47 AM Sunrise, FL (Sports Network) - Troy Brouwer scored 32 seconds into overtime to lift the Washington Capitals to a 6-5 come-from-behind victory over the Florida Panthers in the back end of a home-and-home series at BB&T Center.

Down 5-3 in the third period, the Capitals got goals from Eric Fehr and Alex Ovechkin in a 2:18 span, then thwarted a Florida power play that extended into overtime.

Moments after successfully killing the high-sticking penalty assessed to Mathieu Perreault, Nicklas Backstrom sent a pass that resulted in a breakaway for Brouwer.

Florida goalie Scott Clemmensen made the initial stop, but Brouwer was able to bang home his rebound.

"We're disappointed in that loss," said Panthers head coach Kevin Dineen.

Mike Ribeiro had a goal and two assists for the Capitals, who picked up their first road win of the season. Washington has also won consecutive games for the first time following Saturday's 5-0 triumph over Florida in the nation's capital.

Rookie Jonathan Huberdeau potted two second-period goals for the Panthers.

Drew Shore batted a rebound out of the air for his first NHL goal. The marker gave Florida a two-goal lead at 6:25 of the third period.

But the Capitals rallied later in the frame. First, Fehr skated through the low slot and deflected Mike Green's point shot with 5:07 remaining.

Huberdeau then went off for slashing with 2:53 left and Ovechkin lit the lamp a mere four seconds into the man advantage, beating Clemmensen on the stick side from the top of the left circle with a wrister.

"We saw it was going to be one of those kind of nights where goals are going in," said Washington head coach Adam Oates. Oates wanted his players "just to stay with the program and fight through the mistakes."

Kris Versteeg's longing for payback cost the Panthers in the early stages of Tuesday's contest. The Florida forward was down on the ice for a while after absorbing an Ovechkin hit a little over a minute into the game.

Versteeg eventually skated to the locker room and when he returned, he immediately sought and dropped the gloves with the Washington captain. Versteeg, being the aggressor, was assessed a double-minor for cross-checking and roughing. Ovechkin, on the other hand, was given just a minor for roughing.

The Capitals cashed in on the ensuing power play, with Ribeiro beating Clemmensen on a slap shot at the 4:26 mark.

Florida bounced back, however, by scoring two goals in a 2:51 span later in the first period.

Tomas Fleischmann, a former Capital, spun in the slot and fired a shot that deflected in off a Washington player at 10:18. Shawn Matthias then one-timed a backhand pass from Marcel Goc past Braden Holtby at 13:09.

Washington pulled even twice in the second period, only to see the Panthers respond each time.

Karl Alzner scored on a slap shot following a faceoff win at 5:33, but Huberdeau's deflection put Florida back in front at 8:47.

The Capitals tied the game again at 3-3 when Matt Hendricks backhanded home Ovechkin's pass from behind the net at 10:21. Florida retook the lead on Huberdeau's backhander from in close with 1:34 remaining in the middle stanza.

Game Notes

The Capitals won for the first time this season when trailing after two periods (1-5-1) ... Fleischmann has 99 career goals ... Alzner snapped an 86- game scoreless drought with his first tally since Oct. 27, 2011 ... Holtby made 27 saves ... Clemmensen stopped 23 shots.