NHL ROUNDUP Friday’s other games

Capitals 4, Thrashers 1

WASHINGTON — Brooks Laich scored two goals and Alex Ovechkin and Matt Cooke each had a goal and an assist to lead the Capitals. Laich, who had never scored twice in his first 214 NHL games, has multi-goal efforts in three of the past nine. Ovechkin, the NHL leader in goals and points, gave Washington a 4-1 lead with his 57th goal and 99th point. He assisted on Laich’s first of the night. The Capitals outshot the Thrashers 37-12 and continue to hold out hope of making the playoffs for the first time since 2003. Laich’s second goal gave the Capitals a 2-1 lead. He tapped the puck past goalie Kari Lehtonen in a mad scramble in front of the Atlanta net. The puck crossed the line an instant before the net was dislodged. After a consultation, the goal was allowed. Atlanta took a 1-0 lead when Slava Kozlov’s slap shot beat a screened Olie Kolzig at 11:41 of the first period. Washington, which pressed play from the outset, tied it three minutes later when Laich scored from 20 feet. Laich took a pass from Ovechkin, who extended his point streak to eight games — tied for his longest of the season. Cooke’s breakaway, short-handed goal — scored at 14:41 — gave the Capitals a 3-1 lead. He received an assist on Laich’s second goal. Ovechkin scored just 4 seconds into a power play at 1:07 of the third. Kolzig started a second straight game for the first time since the Capitals acquired Cristobal Huet from Montreal on Feb. 26. He stopped 11 shots and won his 301st game, tying him with former New York Rangers goalie Mike Richter for 22nd place on the NHL career wins list.

Sabres 7, Hurricanes 1

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Derek Roy had two goals and an assist, giving new life to the Sabres’ playoff hopes. The Sabres scored four goals on their first seven shots, snapping a four-game skid (0-2-2) and creeping within two points of eighth-place Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Hurricanes had a five-game win streak snapped, and had their lead atop the Southeast Division cut to five points after both Washington and Florida won Friday. Adam Mair had a goal, two assists and a fight in a penalty-filled game. Daniel Paille, Paul Gaustad, Ales Kotalik and Patrick Kaleta also scored in a blowout reminiscent of the Sabres’ 8-1 win over Carolina at Buffalo on Dec. 1. Buffalo bounced back from a 7-3 loss at Pittsburgh on Wednesday, and overcame playing without three regular defensemen, including Jaroslav Spacek, out indefinitely with bruised ribs.

Panthers 3, Rangers 2

SUNRISE, Fla. — Olli Jokinen scored a power-play goal 7:12 into the third period, stretching the Panthers’ winning streak to a season-high six and handing the Rangers their first regulation loss in more than a month. The Rangers had been 10-0-3 since a 4-1 home loss to Anaheim on Feb. 7. Florida’s winning streak is the third longest in team history. Rostislav Olesz and Jassen Cullimore also scored for Florida, which is making a push for a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Panthers have 76 points, three fewer than eighth-place Philadelphia. Dan Girardi and Scott Gomez scored for the Rangers, sixth in the East with 83 points. Florida’s Tomas Vokoun stopped 30 shots, two more than Henrik Lundqvist of the Rangers.

Associated Press