Capitals Crush Canucks

Artem Chubarov and Zigmund Palffy scored two goals each to lead the Washington Capitals to a 7-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Day 107. The win was Washington's second in a row and moved the team to 19-26-8.

Washington scored three goals in the opening period and never looked back. Chubarov got the first from Frantisek Lukes and Dan Boyle at 10:17, before Palffy made it 2-0 just 1:40 later. Patrick Marleau and Mikael Renberg assisted on Palffy's goal. Todd Warriner extended the lead to three goals less than five minutes later when he converted from Andrew Ference and Greg Watson.

Vancouver pulled a goal back early in the second period when Arnott tallied from Zubrus at 1:53, but the Caps snared two more goals to blow the game wide open. Chubarov made it 4-1 at 16:49 when he scored from Anson Carter and Lukes, and Palffy scored his second of the game at 18:34 to make it a four-goal game heading to the final period.

The Canucks got on the board again early in the final period after Arnott's second goal of the game, but Washington would not be denied. Renberg scored his 15th of the season from Bryan Berard and Rob Blake on the power play at 9:42, and Jonathan Cheechoo finished off the scoring from Watson and Warriner at 14:32.

Manny Legace made 17 saves to earn the win for the Capitals and improve to 15-22-5. Byron Dafoe stopped just 15 shots in a losing effort for the Canucks. Alexander Auld made 10 saves in relief.

Washington returns to action on Day 109 against the New York Rangers.