Capitals hold off Thrashers after taking lead with 3 goals in 88 seconds

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Capitals Hold Off Thrashers, 5-4

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Game Information

Arena: Philips Arena Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Referees: Gord Dwyer, Kyle Rehman Linesmen: Mark Pare, Scott Driscoll

Attendance: 13,192 (71.1% full)

Team Stat Comparison
80	Goals	70
67	Goals Against	59
22	Power Play Goals	19
20	Power Play Goals Allowed	14
0	Shorthanded Goals	4
2	Shorthanded Goals Allowed	0
238	Penalty Minutes	286
10	Average Penalty Minutes	14

Scoring Summary
1ST PERIOD			WAS	ATL
2:02		Eric Fehr Assists: Jeff Schultz	1	0
4:09		Maxim Afinogenov (Power Play) Assists: Nik Antropov	1	1
8:00		Alexandre Giroux Assists: Keith Aucoin	2	1
17:02		Ilya Kovalchuk Assists: Nik Antropov, Maxim Afinogenov	2	2
2ND PERIOD			WAS	ATL
10:20		Jeff Schultz Assists: Semyon Varlamov	3	2
11:34		Matt Bradley Assists: Jeff Schultz, Dave Steckel	4	2
11:48		Chris Clark Assists: Mike Green	5	2
3RD PERIOD			WAS	ATL
4:51		Zach Bogosian (Shorthanded) Assists: Colby Armstrong, Rich Peverley	5	3
19:21		Ilya Kovalchuk (Power Play) Assists: Tobias Enstrom, Slava Kozlov	5	4

ATLANTA -- After Jeff Schultz scored from 85 feet out, the rest seemed almost easy for the Washington Capitals.

At least until the last minute.

Fast Fact

• The Capitals scored three goals in an 88-second span in the second period for their third straight win.

• Four players scored their first goal of the season for Washington.

• Alex Ovechkin was held pointless for the second time in nine games this season.

• The Thrashers pulled goalie Ondrej Pavelec after he allowed five goals on 14 shots. Johan Hedberg entered with a three-goal deficit, but stopped all 14 shots he faced.

• Ilya Kovalchuk scored twice for the Thrashers, his fourth multi-goal game in seven this season.

-- ESPN Stats & Information

Schultz's improbable shot was the first of three second-period goals in 88 seconds, and the Capitals held on to beat the Atlanta Thrashers 5-4 on Thursday night for their third straight win.

The game was tied 2-2 in the second period before Schultz, Matt Bradley and Chris Clark scored the three quick goals.

Semyon Varlamov stopped 22 shots but gave up two goals in the third period before shutting down the Thrashers' comeback.

"It was kind of a flukey game," said Washington's Mike Knuble, who called the Capitals' play late in the game "inexcusable."

"You can't be taking penalties with a two-goal lead," Knuble said.

Atlanta goalie Ondrej Pavelec was benched after allowing the three straight goals that gave Washington a 5-2 lead.

Varlamov was credited with an assist on Schultz's goal as the Capitals were attempting to clear the puck from about 85 feet away. The puck appeared to deflect off Pavelec's stick and into the net, but he said he was beaten by a chip in the ice.

"It hit the ice and changed directions, then went over my head," Pavelec said. "It just happens sometimes, and it happened at a bad time."

Pavelec wouldn't say if he was unnerved by the strange goal. The back-to-back goals by Bradley and Clark in 14 seconds convinced Atlanta coach John Anderson a change was needed.

"It was a mercy pull," Anderson said. "Ondrej was rattled. The whole team was rattled."

Ilya Kovalchuk had two goals for Atlanta, including one on a power play with 38.5 seconds remaining in the game.

Eric Fehr and Alexandre Giroux had first-period goals for the Capitals. Alex Ovechkin, who leads the NHL with 16 points and nine goals, was held without a point for only the second time in nine games.

Ovechkin was called for a tripping penalty with 30 seconds remaining, but the Thrashers couldn't score on the final power play.

"We made it hard on ourselves," Knuble said. "When you score five goals in a game, it should be an automatic win."

Varlamov improved to 4-0 for the Southeast Division-leading Capitals, who began the night only one point ahead of Atlanta.

"It wasn't a textbook game, but I think both teams were very sloppy," Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said. "Both teams got some pretty soft goals. It wasn't a very well-played hockey game."

Capitals goalie Jose Theodore missed his second straight game after leaving the Oct. 15 game against San Jose because of back spasms.

Kovalchuk and Maxim Afinogenov scored for Atlanta in the first period. Zach Bogosian added a short-handed goal in the third period.

Schultz had an assist on Bradley's put-back, and Clark capped the run of three goals by scoring on a rebound of Mike Green's shot.

Pavelec's strong play in the net helped the Thrashers match their best record (4-1-1) after six games in franchise history. Pavelec, who opened the season as the Thrashers' starter as Kari Lehtonen recovers from back surgery, had a 2.37 goals- against average before the second-period meltdown.

Pavelec stopped nine of 14 shots.

Johan Hedberg relieved Pavelec 11:48 into the period and stopped 14 shots.

Game notes
An officials' review disallowed a first-period goal by Knuble. The TV replay showed Knuble kicked the puck past Pavelec with his right leg 7:16 into the opening period with the Capitals leading 2-1. ... Kovalchuk has nine goals to match Ovechkin for the NHL lead. ... Schultz and Atlanta's Nik Antropov had two assists.