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Zubrus, Semin score two goals each to power Capitals

Jan 5, 2007 - 5:14 AM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Dainius Zubrus got things rolling for the Washington Capitals and Alexander Semin finished the task.

Zubrus and Semin scored two goals apiece and Alex Ovechkin added three assists as the Capitals snapped a five-game losing streak with a 5-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.

In winning for the first time since December 23 against Toronto, Washington avenged Monday's 4-1 loss to Montreal and reached the .500 mark (17-17-7) at the midway point of the campaign.

"We're learning and feeling things out, learning how to win," Capitals center Brian Sutherby said. "I think that's part of being young and maybe being a little impatient. ... We have a great group of guys in here, and those tough stretches are where you really find the character in your locker room."

Trailing 1-0, the Capitals tied the game with 4:39 left in the first period, when Zubrus buried the rebound of Ovechkin's shot from the slot for his 15th goal.

"I thought it was a real great start for us," Washington coach Glen Hanlon said. "It was a huge goal by (Zubrus) to get us back. I thought he brought some strong leadership and he was very hungry on the puck tonight."

Zubrus completed his fourth multi-goal contest of the season 2:22 later, finding the top left corner of the net from the slot to give Washington a 2-1 lead.

"We started well, but they just scored a goal," Zubrus said. "It was just a bump in the road. We wanted to keep going, and we did. We got a couple of goals in the first and that was a good lift for us."

Zubrus' second tally came just 34 seconds after Canadiens captain Saku Koivu was called for interfering with goaltender Olaf Kolzig, which forced the tying goal for Montreal to be waved off.

"I was close to Kolzig, there's no doubt, but that's where I always play," Koivu said. "(Defenseman Andrei) Markov made a clear play to Alexei Kovalev and I thought (Kolzig) lost his balance on his own when he went to cross. But it's possible that my stick was there somehow interfering him. I hope it was the right call."

Defenseman Lawrence Nycholat netted his second goal of the campaign in the second period before Semin beat netminder Cristobal Huet just inside the left goalpost moments later for a 4-1 advantage.

"We're a young team, so I think anytime we have a lead, we play better," Zubrus said. "But at the same time, the way that we worked, I don't know if it made a difference if we were down a couple (of) goals."

Montreal replaced Huet with David Aebischer, who yielded Semin's second goal of the night and 19th of the season on a shot from the doorstep midway through the third period.

Blue-liner Steve Eminger collected two assists and Kolzig made 27 saves for Washington.

Kolzig knew there was no need to panic after surrendering the first goal of the contest.

"As a goalie, if you start thinking that way, you may as well get out the net," Kolzig said. "You just say to yourself, 'Make sure they don't get No. 2, keep it at 1-0 and let our guys do their jobs in the offensive zone,' and that's what happens. You can't play mind games with yourself."

Entering with a 4-0-1 lifetime record and 1.99 goals-against average against the Capitals, Huet stopped just 16 shots for the Canadiens, who have lost three of four.