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Green's goal lifts Capaitals in OT

Feb 10, 2008 - 11:22 PM By Rich Dubroff PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Mike Green did it to the New York Rangers again.

The defensemen scored 23 seconds into overtime gave the Washington Capitals a 3-2 win over the Rangers on Sunday and propelled them back into first place in the Southeast Division.

Washington (27-25-5) jumped ahead of idle Carolina and Atlanta with 59 points.

It was the second straight time Green had beaten the Rangers in overtime, having scored the game-winner in Washington's 5-4 victory here on December 12. It was also his third overtime goal this season - a first for a member of the Capitals.

New York's Ryan Hollweg was penalized for tripping Green with 34 seconds left in regulation, and Green's goal from about 30 feet cleanly beat goaltender Stephen Valiquette.

"I was thinking 'shoot,'" Green said. "Their guy was screening (Valiquette), so as long as I got it by him, there was a good chance of it going in."

Green, whose 15 goals lead all NHL blue-liners, was assisted by Alex Ovechkin, the NHL's leading scorer, who finished with a goal and two assists.

Ovechkin, who was held scoreless for just the 11th time this season in Friday's 2-1 loss to Carolina, scored on a rebound at 2:28 of the first period to open the scoring. It was the league-leading 47th goal for Ovechkin.

The Russian's goal came on the power play, marking the Capitals' first tally with the man advantage in their last 19 attempts.

Sean Avery tied the score at 1-1 with a slap shot from 25 feet out that beat Olaf Kolzig 7:02 into the first period. Kolzig finished with 31 saves.

"(It) wasn't our best game, but we continue to not lose two in a row," Kolzig said. "When you score goals, your chances of winning greatly increase."

Washington coach Bruce Boudreau credited Kolzig with the win.

"I thought Olie was the difference," Boudreau said. "I thought he made in the third period some unbelievable saves."

Boudreau, whose team hasn't lost two straight games in regulation since he became the coach on November 22, was grateful when New York's Chris Drury was unable to convert an easy opportunity against Kolzig.

"We got a break. When things are going good, they're going good," Kolzig said. "When they missed the open net, the Big Guy is saying, 'Olie, you're doing good, and I'm going to reward you' - and he did."

Drury gave New York a 2-1 lead when his shot from the right circle went under Kolzig at 9:25 of the second. It was Drury's 18th goal of the season and his sixth in the last seven games.

Drury and the Rangers don't play until Saturday, giving them a great deal of time to work on their offense.

"I'm worried about our next two points," Drury said.

The Capitals leveled the score with 15 seconds left in the second period on a goal from Boyd Gordon, assisted by Ovechkin and Alexander Semin.

New York rookie defenseman Marc Staal, who was on the ice in overtime, thought his team should have won.

"We had a lot of chances in the third to bury it," Staal said. "But they got the power play in overtime, and we got to do a better job blocking it."

Rangers coach Tom Renney decided to start Valiquette in goal for the second straight day in place of regular starter Henrik Lundqvist. On Saturday, the 30-year-old Valiquette recorded his second career shutout against Philadelphia, and as a reward, started on consecutive days for the first time in his NHL career.

"You're going against a team that's sitting and waiting for you," Renney said. "We're scratching and clawing trying to win a hockey game. We're in their end - we're getting opportunities. We can't seem to bury it.

"It's a little bit exasperating, but you need to fight through that to win a hockey game. We came up short. It's pretty tough to do that in overtime when you're a man short."

Valiquette finished with 21 saves.