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Caps storm back to edge Ducks in OT

Nov 2, 2011 - 3:24 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Nicklas Backstrom tied the game with 42 seconds left in regulation and won it at the 2:18 mark of overtime as Washington rallied for a 5-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks.

Dennis Wideman and Joel Ward each had a goal and an assist while Troy Brouwer also lit the lamp for the Capitals, who remain perfect at home with a mark of 6-0-0 this season.

Tomas Vokoun was tagged for four goals on just 15 shots, but stopped enough to help Washington snap a two-game slide after starting the season with a franchise-best seven-game winning streak to start the season.

"I certainly wasn't happy with the first 30 minutes of this game," said Washington head coach Bruce Boudreau. "But, the guys kept it close and I was much more happy with our second half of the game. Still, we have to work on things here."

Teemu Selanne had two goals and two assists to move past Dave Andreychuk for 13th place all-time in goals, but it was not enough to keep the Ducks from losing for a sixth time in their past seven games. Jonas Hiller was victimized for all five goals on 40 shots.

"We played so well early in the game and then basically self-destructed," said Anaheim head coach Randy Carlyle. "They're an offensive team and put pressure on us and we didn't react very well."

Trailing by two goals, Washington got one back with 8:18 to play in the third when a quick shot from Brouwer in the high slot saw Hiller get a glove on it, but the puck popped into the air and fell into the net before the goalie could recover to make it a 4-3 game.

The Caps were awarded a power play four minutes later, but were unable to net the equalizer.

However, all the momentum had swung in their favor as they continued to attack the net.

The tying goal came with Vokoun pulled for an extra attacker with Jason Chimera blasting a shot from the top of the right circle and Backstrom wristing home the rebound from the left circle with 42.0 seconds to play.

In the extra session, Jeff Schultz threw a bouncing pass to the net from the left boards that saw Alex Ovechkin tip it and Backstrom dunk it in for the win.

Anaheim scored the first three goals of the game to take a commanding lead.

A turnover behind the net saw Selanne send a little backhand feed to the front where Saku Koivu took the disc, slid over to the right and wristed it home 9:05 into the game.

Selanne's first goal of the game came at the 13:39 mark of the first and gave him 641 for his career to move him past Andreychuk. Toni Lydman missed on a shot from the left point, but Koivu grabbed the puck at the right side and sent it over to the left where Selanne had the easy goal.

At the 8:59 mark of the second, Anaheim worked the puck around with crisp passing and Selanne finished the play with a wrister from the left circle for his fifth goal of the season.

The Caps got one back 13:23 into the second as Ward flicked a shot on net from the right side on the fly that was able to squeeze past Hiller and it was a 3-2 game three minutes later when Hiller misplayed the puck near his net and Wideman made him pay for the mistake with a one-timer from the right circle.

Anaheim gave itself some breathing room at the 9:13 mark of the third with a power play marker when several chances in front saw Corey Perry eventually knock it in.

Game Notes

Next on the goal-scoring list is Jaromir Jagr with 651, but he is still active with the Philadelphia Flyers...Washington plays at Carolina on Friday...Anaheim plays in New York against the Rangers on Thursday...These teams split the series last season, with each team winning on the road.