Ovechkin's two goals help carry Capitals - Sports

Ovechkin's two goals help carry Capitals

The reigning MVP earns first points of the season in victory

Sunday, Oct 12, 2008 - 12:07 AM

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By WIRE REPORTS

WASHINGTON -- Alex Ovechkin scored twice, a sprawling Brooks Laich was credited with the go-ahead goal after a replay review, and the Washington Capitals came back to beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 last night.

The Capitals fell behind by two goals to start, but Ovechkin's first score -- the reigning NHL MVP's first point of the season -- made it 2-2 early in the second period.

Then, with 4:27 left in the third, Alexander Semin brought the puck in and nearly scored himself. Laich, knocked to the ice, somehow got his blade on the puck and tipped it past goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, who also was down.

Ovechkin sealed the victory with 1½ minutes to go with a slap shot from between the circles.

In other games

RANGERS 4, FLYERS 3: Nikolai Zherdev scored the first of four first-period goals, and New York remained unbeaten and is off to its best start in 25 years with a victory over host Philadelphia.

Blair Betts, Fredrik Sjostrom and Michal Rozsival scored goals for Rangers.

RED WINGS 3, SENATORS 2: Johan Franzen has two goals in the third period to rally visiting Detroit over Ottawa.

Valteri Filppula also scored for the Red Wings.

ISLANDERS 5, BLUES 2: Mike Comrie, Trent Hunter, Sean Bergenheim and Andy Hilbert all scored in the first 20 minutes of the home opener, and backup goalie Joey MacDonald made the early offense stand up in New York's victory over St. Louis.

CANADIENS 6, MAPLE LEAFS 1: Montreal newcomer Alex Tanguay had a goal and three assists to help the visiting Canadiens rout Toronto for their first victory in their centennial season.

Sergei Kostitsyn scored twice and added an assist, and Roman Hamrlik, Alex Kovalev and Guillaume Latendresse also had goals for the Canadiens.

PANTHERS 3, THRASHERS 2 (OT): David Booth scored his second goal of the game with 1:06 left in overtime to give host Florida a victory over Atlanta.

Stephen Weiss also scored for the Panthers, and Richard Zednik -- playing in his first regular season game since his neck was slashed in February -- had two assists.

DEVILS 2, PENGUINS 1 (OT): Zach Parise's wrist shot from the left circle sailed past Marc-Andre Fleury's glove with 37.6 seconds left in overtime and visiting New Jersey rallied for a victory.

HURRICANES 4, LIGHTNING 3 (OT): Eric Staal scored the tying and winning goals to lead visiting Carolina to an overtime victory against Tampa Bay.

Mark Recchi, Janne Niskala and Vinny Lecavalier scored for Tampa Bay, which led 3-0 about 9 minutes into the second period.

PREDATORS 3, DALLAS 1: Jason Arnott scored two power-play goals and had an assist, and host Nashville beat Dallas in its home opener.

Shea Weber had a goal, and J.P. Dumont had three assists.
Summaries, Page C11