Capitals 3 - 2 Panthers
Final - OT
  for this game

Caps reclaim division lead with OT win over Panthers

Mar 7, 2011 - 2:24 AM Sunrise, FL (Sports Network) - Alexander Semin scored 48 seconds into overtime, and the Washington Capitals reclaimed the Southeast Division lead with a 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers at BankAtlantic Center.

For the second night in a row, the Panthers came back to force overtime, tying the game on David Booth's power-play goal with 2:36 remaining in regulation. Unfortunately, for the second consecutive night, Florida yielded the decisive marker inside the opening minute of overtime as Semin hammered home Marcus Johansson's return feed behind Florida goalie Scott Clemmensen.

Atlanta's Andrew Ladd supplied the game-winner 25 seconds into the extra session on Saturday.

Nicklas Backstrom and Boyd Gordon also tallied for the Capitals, who have won four straight games to move one point ahead of Tampa Bay in the division standings. The Capitals visit the Lightning on Monday in a battle for first place.

Michal Neuvirth made 32 saves to collect his 22nd win of the season.

"Sometimes it's good to play the close games," Neuvirth said. "It's intense, and I don't mind playing intense games."

Bill Thomas also lit the lamp for Florida, which has dropped five in a row. Clemmensen stopped 22 shots in defeat.

"I thought we deserved a better fate for how hard we worked," said Florida head coach Peter DeBoer.

The Panthers grabbed a 1-0 lead when Thomas completed an odd-man rush with Michal Repik at the 15:03 mark of the first period. Backstrom knotted the game 2:13 later on a one-timer from the outer edge of the left circle.

Gordon jumped on a loose puck in the slot to put Washington up 2-1 midway through the second period.

Game Notes

Each of the Capitals' last seven wins have been decided by one goal...Florida has lost five straight on home ice...Washington improved to 19-16-4 when allowing the first goal...The Panthers fell to 16-15-9 in one-goal games.






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