Capitals Top Thrashers

Bryan Berard scored two goals on Day 129 to lead the Washington Capitals to a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers. The win moves Washington to .500 for the season at 27-27-10. It's the first time the Capitals have been at the .500 mark since being 11-11-3.

Frantisek Lukes gave Washington a good start when he scored on the power play from Jonathan Cheechoo and Artem Chubarov at 6:02. Berard then scored his two goals in a 10 second span to make it 3-0. The first was unassisted on the power play at 12:53, and the second came from Zigmund Palffy and Patrick Marleau at 13:03. Atlanta pulled a couple goals back through Bahen and Petterstrom to make it 3-2 at the break. Steeves and Kidney assisted on the second goal.

The Caps got the lead back to two goals early in the second period when Anson Carter netted his 25th of the season from Michal Rozsival at 4:47. The Thrashers responded with a goal from Sellars at 6:41, but it would prove to be the final marker of the game. Leboutillier and Murray assisted on the goal.

Peter Skudra stopped 12 shots to earn the win and improve to 5-5-3. Michael Garnett made 20 saves in the loss and fell to 8-47-7.

The Capitals are back in action on Day 130 in San Jose.