Capitals 3 - 2 Senators
Final
  for this game

Capitals halt losing streak at 8 games

Dec 20, 2010 - 7:02 AM Ottawa, ON (Sports Network) - It took two and a half weeks and nine games, but Washington is finally back in the win column.

Mathieu Perreault scored twice during a second-period outburst the Capitals used to earn a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators and snap their eight-game losing streak.

Eric Fehr also lit the lamp and Semyon Varlamov made 24 saves for Washington, which was coming off Saturday's loss in Boston. The Capitals recorded their first win since December 1 against St. Louis, and avoided their first nine- game slide since 2007.

Brian Elliott allowed three goals on 34 shots for the Senators, who have dropped their last two.

Ryan Shannon and Chris Kelly scored first-period goals for Ottawa, but Washington moved ahead with a strong second frame.

A turnover in the Senators' offensive zone in the opening minute led to the Capitals' first goal. Mike Knuble raced to get the puck just as he crossed the blue line and carried it up the left side of the ice, while Brooks Laich flew up the middle with Perreault to his right to create an odd-man rush.

Knuble dished to Laich in the slot, and while Laich couldn't get off a clear shot, the puck bounced to the right side of the crease for Perreault, who stuffed it in at the 34-second mark.

Washington was back on the attack after the faceoff, thanks to a failed clearing attempt by Ottawa. Alex Ovechkin recovered the puck in the right corner and centered for Fehr, who quickly put a backhander past Elliott at 1:20.

The Capitals moved ahead while on the power play, thanks to another opportunistic goal by Perreault. Fehr threw the puck on net from the slot, but Elliott couldn't control the rebound. Perreault was again stationed by the right post, and netted his second of the game at 6:55.

"After that first period we needed a good second period, and I thought we played really good from the second to the end," Perreault said.

Neuvirth made the lead stand by making 17 saves over the final two periods.

"Three quick goals changed the momentum," said Senators forward Daniel Alfredsson. "After that I thought it was back and forth. We had a good push the last seven, eight minutes of the third, just couldn't get the tying goal."

Game Notes

Ottawa went 0-for-5 on the power play, while Washington was 1-for-6...The Capitals snapped a four-game losing streak in Ottawa.






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