Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) The Florida Panthers shut out Washington's record-setting defenseman, but couldn't stop the NHL's top goal scorer.

Capitalizing: Capitals forward Matt Bradley (right) checks Panthers forward David Booth during their game on Sunday in Sunrise, Fla. Washington won 4-2. AP PHOTO

Mike Green's NHL-record goals streak for defensemen ended at eight games, but Alexander Ovechkin scored three times to give the Capitals a 4-2 victory Sunday.

"Arguably the best player in the game made some big-time plays," Florida coach Pete DeBoer said. "That's what beat us."

Ovechkin's second goal broke a tie with 2:31 left, and he completed his third hat trick of the season and the eighth of his career with an empty-netter to push his NHL-leading goals total to 41.

Ovechkin said after the game he told Florida goalie Tom Vokoun during pregame warmups he would score two goals off him.

"I'm sure he tells every goalie that, and when it comes true, he's telling you guys," Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau said. "He's sort of covering himself a little bit there. But it wouldn't surprise me."

On the winner, Ovechkin took a long pass from Nicklas Backstrom deep in Florida territory, made a quick move back and fired a wrist shot from the wing that went through All-Star defenseman Jay Bouwmeester and beat Vokoun through the 5-hole.

"I tried to use my speed just a little, use my body and after that I just tried to shoot the puck and it was in," said Ovechkin, who had only two assists in Washington's first two games against Florida this season.

His first goal gave Washington a 1-0 lead at 15:38 of the first period. He scored on the power play when his wrist shot along the ice beat Vokoun while he was being screened by Washington forward Brooks Laich.

Green, who broke the defenseman goals streak record against Tampa Bay on Saturday night, had four shots on goal. His best scoring chance came in the second period on a power play, but Vokoun stopped his one-timer from the high slot.

"It has to come to an end," Green said. "Couldn't score for the rest of the year, but it would have been nice. But as long as we get the win, that's all that matters."

Green also failed to record an assist, putting an end to his eight-game points streak. He said after the game he was happy the pressure to score was off.

"Finally," Green said. "Can maybe get back to just playing and not worrying about records and stuff like that."

Devils 6, Sharks 5

In Newark, N.J.,David Clarkson scored his second goal of the game on a power play with 3:32 to play and the Devils completed a sweep of Western Conference leader San Jose.

Avalanche 6, Red Wings 5 (SO)

In Detroit, Jordan Leopold scored in the fifth round of a shootout, and Andrew Raycroft stopped 40 shots in regulation and overtime and allowed only Henrik Zetterberg's goal in the second round of the tiebreaker as Colorado edged the Red Wings.

Flyers 5, Rangers 2

In New York, Mike Richards' short-handed goal sparked a four-goal second period, and rookie Claude Giroux had a goal and two assists as Philadelphia downed the Rangers.

Hurricanes 3, Sabres 0

In Buffalo, Cam Ward made 36 saves for his third shutout in 10 starts, and Eric Staal had a goal and two assists as Carolina blanked the Sabres.

Thrashers 8, Ducks 4

In Anaheim, Ilya Kovalchuk scored three goals in 6:51 span of the second period and also had an assist in Atlanta's win over the Ducks.

Canucks 4, Canadiens 2

In Vancouver, identical twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin each had a goal and an assist to lead the Canucks past Montreal.

PITTSBURGH (AP) Michel Therrien, his team fading in the Eastern Conference playoff race less than a year after making the Stanley Cup finals, was fired as the Pittsburgh Penguins' coach on Sunday night and replaced by minor-league coach Dan Bylsma.

Therrien oversaw one of the NHL's best single-season turnarounds in his first full season in 2006-07 and coached the Penguins to within two victories of the Stanley Cup last year, but this team has struggled badly since mid-November and is danger of not making the playoffs.

General manager Ray Shero decided to fire Therrien after a 6-2 loss in Toronto on Saturday night in which the Penguins led 2-1 going into the third period. The Penguins are 27-25-5 after winning 47 games each of the last two seasons and are five points out of the final conference playoff spot. They also are 1-7-1 in their last nine road games.

"I didn't part like the way, the direction the team was headed," Shero said on a conference call, not long after giving Therrien the news. "I've watched for a number of weeks and, at the end of the day, the direction is not that I wanted to have here. I wasn't comfortable, and that's why the change was made."

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