Capitals 4 - 2 Blue Jackets
Final
  for this game

Ovechkin nets two, Caps top Blue Jackets

Jan 1, 2012 - 5:11 AM Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Alex Ovechkin scored twice as the Washington Capitals took a 4-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Dennis Wideman had a goal and an assist while Alexander Semin supplied the other goal for the Capitals, who have won three straight. Tomas Vokoun made 35 saves for the win.

"We had some breakdowns and they scored, but we were able to rally there in the third," said Washington head coach Dale Hunter. "We put some pressure on them and kept it going the whole final period."

John Moore and Samuel Pahlsson both scored for the Blue Jackets, who were coming off a win against Dallas on Thursday that snapped a six-game losing streak. Steve Mason was handed the loss for giving up four goals on 26 shots.

Washington trailed, 2-0, coming into the third period, but dominated the final frame to close out 2011 with its first three-game winning streak since opening the season with a seven-game winning streak.

The first goal came from Ovechkin, who had a two-goal game against Buffalo on Friday, at the 4:23 mark of the third to make it a 2-1 game.

Just over two minutes later, Semin scored his 10th of the year to tie the game and Wideman followed with a goal 28 seconds later for a 3-2 lead.

Ovechkin's second of the game came with 8:57 to play on the power play as his slap shot beat Mason for a 4-2 lead.

Vokoun stopped all nine shots he faced in the third to give Washington the win.

"It's awfully frustrating because we played great for two periods, but we looked like a tired hockey club in the third," said Columbus head coach Scott Arniel. "We've worked on staying aggressive and doing the right things and tonight we didn't do that."

The Blue Jackets took a 1-0 lead with 5:13 left in the second on a rush as Rick Nash hit Moore in the slot and his wrister found its mark.

Columbus made it a 2-0 game as R.J. Umberger tipped a right point shot from Marc Methot over to the slot and Pahlsson buried it with 35 seconds left in the second.

Game Notes

The Capitals host Calgary on Tuesday...Columbus begins a four-game road trip in San Jose on Thursday...Washington has won three straight over Columbus...Ovechkin now has 16 goals on the year and has six goals and three assists over a six-game point streak.






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