Capitals Trash Thrashers

The Washington Capitals scored six goals in the opening period, including three on the power play, and surged to a 7-0 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers on Day 7. The win moved the club to 2-2 for the season.

Cory Sarich started it off for the visiting side with his second of the season from Jonathan Cheechoo and Kevin Weekes at 2:09. Patrick Marleau made it 2-0 4:48 later when he connected from Zigmund Palffy and Cheechoo. Washington kept pushing for goals, and when Atlanta's Kidney took an elbowing minor Todd Warriner made the power play work with a goal from Dan Boyle and David Vyborny at 8:50. Warriner connected again with the mad advantage at 13:09 to make it 4-0. A procession to the box by Atlanta gave the Caps another powerplay just 35 seconds after Warriner's goal, and this time it was Palffy netting from Cheechoo and Marleau at 14:45. Bryan Berard finished off the first period scoring with a blast from Boyle and Vyborny at 19:35.

After a scoreless second period, Rob Blake scored his first of the season from Palffy and Marleau at 6:42 to provide the final score.

Kevin Weekes stopped all 18 shots he faced to earn the shutout victory. Marc-Andre Fleury made just eight saves in the loss. Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 14 shots in relief.

The Capitals return to action in Pittsburgh on Day 8.