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Ovechkin, Capitals edge Ducks

Mar 19, 2014 - 5:00 AM Anaheim, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Alex Ovechkin netted the game-winner on the power play 2:44 into the third period, as the Washington Capitals claimed a 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday at Honda Center.

Anaheim's Mathieu Perreault potted a power-play goal to tie the tilt at 1:32 of the third, but Ducks forward Matt Beleskey went off for slashing at 2:36 and Ovechkin buried a one-timer from the low left circle just eight seconds into the ensuing man-advantage to put Washington on top for good.

Joel Ward and Troy Brouwer registered a goal apiece, while Jaroslav Halak stopped 43 shots for the Capitals, who have won three straight games to match Columbus with 76 points for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Ben Lovejoy tallied Anaheim's other goal, while Jonas Hiller allowed three goals on 30 shots for the Ducks, who had a two-game win streak halted.

Ward opened the scoring with a tap-in from the crease just 2:11 in, but Anaheim answered just 59 seconds later when Lovejoy beat Halak short-side with a one-timer from the right point off a deft drop pass from Andrew Cogliano.

A power play late in the first helped Washington regain control, as Saku Koivu was sent off for interference at 19:29 of the opening frame.

With the Capitals controlling the puck in the Anaheim zone, Marcus Johansson rifled a shot from the right circle that Hiller turned aside, but Brouwer backhanded the rebound home for a 2-1 lead with 9.2 seconds on the clock.

The Caps killed off a 5-on-3 early in the second and then kept the Ducks off the board during Mike Green's hooking minor at 12:00, but a tripping penalty against Jay Beagle with 29 seconds left in the second came back to bite Washington early in the third.

The Ducks finally cashed in on the man-advantage 1:32 into the final frame, as Perreault ripped a wrister from the right circle that snuck between Halak's body and right arm to the tilt at 2-2.

Game Notes

It was the first meeting between the clubs in California since the Caps notched a 7-6 win on Feb. 16, 2011 ... Washington improved to 13-16-5 on the road, while Anaheim dropped to 24-7-4 as the host this season ... Washington forward Dustin Penner, who was acquired from Anaheim on March 4, failed to register a shot in his return to Anaheim ... Ducks defenseman Stephane Robidas made his Anaheim debut. He was acquired from the Dallas Stars before the trade deadline, but he hadn't played since Nov. 29 due to a fractured right leg ... Washington's Nicklas Backstrom and Anaheim's Hampus Lindholm each had two assists.