Capitals 5, Panthers 0: Troy Brouwer scored twice and Braden Holtby turned aside all 27 shots he faced for his fourth career shutout and first this season as host Washington emphatically snapped a three-game losing skid.
Captain Alex Ovechkin netted his first even-strength tally of 2013 and Joel Ward and Mathieu Perrault collected a goal and an assist apiece for the Capitals, who have won nine of their last 10 home games versus Florida.
After Brouwer opened the scoring late in the first period by deflecting defenseman John Carlson's shot, Washington doubled its advantage early in the second after an alert play by Holtby. The netminder caught Florida in a line change and quickly wired a feed to Brouwer, who blasted a one-timer past Jose Theodore.
The Capitals claimed their first three-goal lead of the season midway through the second period after Ward beat Theodore with a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle.
Ovechkin scored off a faceoff early in the third period and Perreault capped the rout by cleaning up a rebound to chase Theodore, who finished with 16 saves.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Holtby's assist on Brouwer's second goal was the first power-play point for a Capitals goaltender since Tomas Vokoun on Dec. 30, 2011 versus Buffalo. ... Ovechkin has two goals and three assists in his last four contests. ... C Mike Ribeiro extended his point streak to four games with an assist on Ovechkin's goal. Ribeiro has three goals and three assists during the stretch.
Florida | Washington | |
N/A | Points | Troy Brouwer 2 |
N/A | Goals | Troy Brouwer 2 |
N/A | Assists | Mathieu Perreault 1 |
N/A | Power Play Goals | Troy Brouwer 1 |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Scott Clemmensen 1.000 | Save Percentage | Braden Holtby 1.000 |
Jose Theodore 16 | Saves | Braden Holtby 27 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Florida | 27 | 0 | 0-2 | 1-2 | 11 | 24 |
Washington | 25 | 5 | 1-2 | 2-2 | 11 | 25 |