Thrashers fall to Caps, 4-1

WASHINGTON -- Brooks Laich scored two goals and Alex Ovechkin and Matt Cooke each had a goal and an assist to lead the Washington Capitals to a 4-1 win over the Atlanta Thrashers on Friday night.

Laich, who had never scored twice in his first 214 NHL games, has multigoal 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.

Atlanta was seeking its second consecutive regulation win for the first time since Dec. 18-20.

-- NOTES: Atlanta C Todd White missed his sixth straight game due to a shoulder injury. ... The Thrashers had just two shots in the first period equaling a season-low for the fifth time this season. ... Washington recalled D Sami Lepisto from Hershey (AHL). He recorded his first NHL point with an assist on Laich's second goal.