Washington Stomps Senators

Patrick Marleau tied a league record with six points on three goals and three assists to lead the Washington Capitals to a 6-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Day 140. The result vaulted Washington into a tie for sixth in the Wales Conference on 73 points.

Despite getting outshot 9-8, Ottawa scored the only goal of the first period. Grosek got the goal from Nedved and Lehtinen at 4:37.

The Capitals took over in the middle stanza, holding the Senators to just two shots on goal and scoring on three of its six attempts. Zigmund Palffy got things going from Marleau and Mikael Renberg at 3:45, before Marleau netted his first from Renberg and Michal Rozsival at 8:35. Marleau made it 3-1 just 1:12 later with a power play tally from Anson Carter and Palffy.

Ottawa pulled a goal back early in the final period, but after that it was all Washington. Tarnstrom was the scorer for the Sens from Ryder and Poti at 3:04. Palffy's second of the game from Carter and Marleau at 5:15 gave the Caps a two-goal edge. Jonathan Cheechoo got into the scoring act just over 10 minutes later with a marker from Palffy and Marleau. The dynamic center finished the game off just 36 seconds later with his third of the game. Bryan Berard and Palffy assisted on the goal.

Peter Skudra made 16 saves to earn the win and improve to 6-5-3. Fred Brathwaite stopped just 16 shots in the loss and fell to 6-9-4. Mathieu Chouinard made one save in relief.

The Capitals visit Chicago on Day 141.