NHL ROUNDUP \ Wednesday’s other games

December 11, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

Capitals 3, Bruins 1

WASHINGTON — Capitals goalie Brent Johnson shut down the Eastern Conference’s top offense, and Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Alexandre Giroux scored for Washington. Boston, which has the most goals and the best record in the East, had won five consecutive games and 14 of 16. The Southeast Division-leading Capitals improved to 11-1-1 at home, thanks to Johnson. The only goal he allowed came with 35 seconds left in the second period, when Phil Kessel passed the puck to a wide-open Milan Lucic.

Sabres 4, Lightning 2

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Thomas Vanek scored twice, including his NHL-leading 22nd goal, in Buffalo’s comeback win over Tampa Bay. It was the Lightning’s ninth straight defeat. Vanek snapped a 2-2 second-period tie with his second goal of the game on the power play, sending the Sabres to their third straight win. Jason Pominville had a goal and two assists, and Drew Stafford also scored for Buffalo (14-11-3). Ryan Miller made 26 saves in his fifth straight start. Martin St. Louis and Mark Recchi scored for Tampa Bay (6-14-8), which blew a 2-0 first-period lead. The Lightning, who have an NHL-low 20 points, dropped to 0-7-2 during their skid.

Rangers 3, Thrashers 2, OT

ATLANTA — Scott Gomez scored 15 seconds into overtime and the New York Rangers snapped a two-game losing streak by beating struggling Atlanta. Gomez took advantage of goaltender Johan Hedberg’s mishandling of the puck, and put in a backhander. The Thrashers have lost five straight at home and have just two victories in 11 games.

Red Wings 4, Flames 3, OT

DETROIT — Nicklas Lidstrom scored 3:50 into overtime to complete Detroit’s comeback from a two-goal deficit against Calgary. Brian Rafalski had a goal and an assist, and Valtteri Filppula and Henrik Zetterberg also scored for Detroit. Johan Franzen added two assists, and Ty Conklin made 29 saves. David Moss posted a goal and an assist, and Craig Conroy and Daymond Langkow each chipped in a goal for Calgary. Curtis McElhinney stopped 35 shots. Lidstrom beat McElhinney with a slap shot from the high slot area.

Associated Press