Washington Routs Atlanta

Patrick Marleau scored a hat trick, and Zigmund Palffy assisted on all three goals to lead the Washington Capitals to a 6-1 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers on Day 137. The win moves Washington to 30-28-11, good for a tie for seventh in the Wales Conference.

Marleau gave the Caps a great start when he scored his 20th of the season from Palffy and Bryan Berard at 7:44 of the first period. Rob Blake extended the lead to 2-0 with a power play tally from Andrew Ference and Dan Boyle at 9:44. Marleau made it 3-0 with a power play marker of his won from Palffy and Anson Carter at 16:26.

Atlanta pulled a goal back early in the second period through Backer from Nikulin and Muckalt, but Washington regained its three-goal edge just 35 seconds later. Radoslav Suchy was the scorer for the Capitals from Artem Chubarov and Boyle at 2:39.

Washington poured it on in the final period to complete the rout. Marleau finished his hat trick from Palffy and Mikael Renberg at 2:40, and Jonathan Cheechoo made it 6-1 from Chubarov and Todd Warriner on the power play at 4:59. The Caps outshot Atlanta 11-5 in the final 20 minutes to prevent any hope of a Thrashers comeback.

Manny Legace made 24 saves to earn the win and improve to 24-23-8. Michael Garnett stopped just 19 shots in the loss and fell to 9-52-7. Stephane Fiset made seven saves in relief.

Washington heads to Philadelphia on Day 138 for a date with the Flyers.