7:00 PM ET, November 8, 2003
Verizon Center, Washington, District of Columbia
E. Nabokov (Sharks - G): Saves: 32, Save Pct.: .941

A. McCauley (Sharks - C): Goals: 1, Assists: 0


R. Lang (Capitals - C): Goals: 0, Assists: 1
Final
7:00 PM ET, November 8, 2003
Verizon Center, Washington, District of Columbia
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The San Jose Sharks finished a successful road trip.

Can't find the puck? Capitals' Stephen Peat and Sharks' Scott Parker go at it Saturday.
"We're able to go home satisfied. ... Eight points and 15 days later -- I don't know many teams that could expect to get about a point every night," defenseman Kyle McLaren said.
The Sharks, who broke a three-game winless streak, have beaten Washington eight straight times. Alyn McAuley and Patrick Marleau also scored for the Sharks, who had just one win in their previous 10 games (1-3-5-1).
Kip Miller and Peter Bondra tallied for the Capitals, who have dropped two straight and three of four.
Bondra appeared to tie the game with 5.8 seconds left in regulation, but the goal was disallowed after a four-minute video replay review because he kicked the puck in.
Cheechoo, one of three Sharks packed around Bondra in the crease, knew the goal wouldn't withstand the review.
"I knew I lifted (Bondra's) stick, so the only thing he had to put it in with was his foot," Cheechoo said.
Bondra wasn't so sure the correct call was made.
"I swung my stick and swung pretty much my whole body, whatever was left on that side, and the guy was pulling me away from the play," Bondra said. "It was so close, it could go either way, so I was hoping they would make the right decision."
The game marked the return to MCI Center of Sharks coach Ron Wilson, who coached the Capitals to a 192-167-51 record over four years before being dismissed following the 2001-02 season.
But Wilson had to sweat out the lengthy review.
"The only thing that had me worried was how long it took," Wilson said. "The longer it takes, the worse it can be."
Miller broke an 18-game goal drought, giving Washington a 1-0 lead 5:11 into the second period. He used a defender as a screen and beat goaltender Evgeni Nabokov from the right circle for his first of the season.
The lead lasted only 2:18 before McAuley took a backhand feed from the left boards and lined up a low wrist shot from the top of the circle.
San Jose exploited a turnover by Washington's Stephen Peat at the blue line when Mark Smith stole the puck and fed Cheechoo, who buried a top-shelf shot for a 2-1 lead 12:42 second.
"We turn the puck over and it seems to be someone different every night," Capitals coach Bruce Cassidy said.
Marleau made it 3-1 midway through the third period, squeezing a shot through goalie Olaf Kolzig's legs from the right side.
Bondra scored a power-play goal with 5:02 left in regulation, converting a cross-crease feed from Jaromir Jagr from the right post.
| Arena: Verizon Center Location: Washington, District of Columbia |
| Referees: Craig Spada, Stephen Walkom Linesmen: Steve Miller, Derek Nansen |
| Attendance: 15,557 (84.6% full) |
| San Jose | Washington | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Goals | 2 | |
| 0 | Power Play Goals | 1 | |
| 2 | Power Play Opportunities | 3 | |
| 0 | Shorthanded Goals | 0 | |
| 5 | Penalties | 3 | |
| 13 | Penalty Minutes | 9 | |
| 29 | Shots on Goal | 34 | |
| 0 | Hits | 0 | |
| 39 | Faceoffs Won | 16 | |
| 1st Period | SJ | WSH | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No scoring this period | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2nd Period | SJ | WSH | ||
| 5:11 | Kip Miller (1)
Assists: Jaromir Jagr, Sergei Gonchar |
0 | 1 | |
| 7:29 | Alyn McCauley (6)
Assist: Nils Ekman |
1 | 1 | |
| 12:42 | Jonathan Cheechoo (5)
Assist: Mark Smith |
2 | 1 | |
| 3rd Period | SJ | WSH | ||
| 12:10 | Patrick Marleau (3)
Assists: Niko Dimitrakos, Vincent Damphousse |
3 | 1 | |
| 14:58 | Peter Bondra (5)
(Power Play) Assists: Jaromir Jagr, Robert Lang |
3 | 2 | |

