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Ovechkin powers Capitals past Red Wings

Jan 31, 2009 - 9:25 PM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Missing practice for a day did little to slow down Alex Ovechkin.

The reigning Hart Trophy winner scored twice within a 76-second span late in the third period Saturday, lifting the Washington Capitals to a 4-2 victory over the slumping Detroit Red Wings.

Ovechkin gave the Capitals a scare when he crashed into the boards in the second period of Tuesday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins. He suffered a stinger that caused him to miss practice the following day.

Saturday's contest started at 12:30 p.m. local time, and Ovechkin said he never remembered playing a game that early. Washington has another 12:30 start Sunday.

"In the first two periods, I did not have a lot of chances, and I was still kind of sleepy," he said. "I skated around and missed the puck and felt kind of frustrated."

The All-Star left wing showed that he is none the worse for wear, scoring his 32nd and 33rd goals of the season to take over the NHL's goal-scoring lead from Philadelphia's Jeff Carter.

"I had a lot more chances in the third period, and scored a goal, and it helped me," Ovechkin added.

"Alex is one of those big-game guys," Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau said. "You keep throwing him out there and throwing out there and eventually good things will happen."

Ovechkin was quiet through two periods, but snapped a 2-2 tie with an unassisted goal with 7:08 left in the third. He then scored off a goal-mouth scramble when Washington was on the power play to give the Capitals a two-goal cushion.

"They pay him to score and that's what he did at the end," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said.

Washington survived a frantic final 1 1/2 minutes as the Red Wings skated with a 6-on-3 advantage, pulling goaltender Ty Conklin after the Capitals were called for consecutive penalties.

"We were bombing away," Babcock said. "We had good rebounding opportunities. Goaltending bailed them out."

Playing without regulars Chris Chelios, Tomas Holmstrom and Henrik Zetterberg, the Red Wings suffered their season-high fifth straight loss.

"Anytime you're not winning on a regular basis, there are things you've got to do better," Babcock added.

Zetterberg missed his second straight game with back spasms after signing a 12-year, $72 million contract extension Wednesday.

The Red Wings grabbed a 1-0 lead with 1:54 left in the opening period as Ville Leino scored his first career goal in his NHL debut.

However, the lead lasted less than a minute as Viktor Kozlov registered his 11th of the season to tie it for the Capitals 57 seconds later.

The two goals in the second period also were scored late, with Mike Green notching his 14th with 2:41 left to give Washington a 2-1 lead.

"They're so patient and so smart with the puck," Green said. "Once we slowed down our game, we played almost like them."

Detroit tied it with 50 seconds remaining in the period on Johan Franzen's power-play goal, his 22nd of the campaign.

Theodore recorded 27 saves for the Capitals, including a number of stops in the frenetic final moments.

"It showed sacrifice," Boudreau said. "Everybody was blocking shots and doing whatever you have to do to preserve the win, so that was nice to see."

Conklin turned aside 23 shots for the Red Wings.