WASHINGTON -- Matt Bradley broke a third-period tie with his first goal in 2 1/2 months and the Washington Capitals snapped a three-game losing streak, delivering a blow to the Atlanta Thrashers' playoff hopes with a 2-1 victory Thursday night.
Bradley gathered the puck in the right corner and skated in to put a backhander between Ondrej Pavelec's legs with 10:14 remaining. It was Bradley's ninth goal of the season and first since Jan. 19.
In a possible preview of a first-round Eastern Conference playoff series, the Capitals put aside of week of spotty play and moved closer to clinching the Presidents' Trophy for best overall record. Nicklas Backstrom scored his 30th goal, Alex Ovechkin had an assist for his 102nd point, and Semyon Varlamov improved his bid to be the No. 1 goalie for the postseason by making 19 saves.
The Thrashers started the day in ninth place in the East with five games to play and two points behind Philadelphia, Boston and Montreal in a logjammed battle for the final playoff spots. At least they didn't lose ground: Philadelphia and Boston both lost, and Montreal had the night off.
The Thrashers' only goal came from Tim Stapleton, playing his fourth game with the team after getting called up from the minors.
The win was No. 50 for the Capitals, tying the club record. Washington has also had Atlanta's number this season, winning all five meetings by a combined score of 24-11.
After getting outscored 9-1 in the first periods of their three previous games, the Capitals would no doubt have been happy just to break even over the first 20 minutes. They did even better, breaking a scoreless tie in the final minute with a strong shift by the team's top line.
Ovechkin got the secondary assist with a feed to Mike Green, whose shot from the point was tipped in by Backstrom. The goal put Backstrom at the 30-goal plateau for the first time - his previous high was last season's 22.
An active second period included a point-blank save by Varlamov on Maxim Afinogenov, a nice play by Nik Antropov to disrupt a 2-on-1 Capitals break, and a save by Pavelec on Green that popped high into the air and landed on the top of the net.
Atlanta's Colby Armstrong, who had his nose bloodied on a roughing call on John Erskine in the first period, put a forearm to the face of Mathieu Perreault that knocked the young center to the ice. Armstrong wasn't called for a penalty - until Shaone Morrisonn stepped in to retaliate. Armstrong and Morrisonn scuffled, and both were sent off for 2 minutes.
Stapleton tied it late in the period when he got behind defenseman Tom Poti and deposited a feed from Armstrong past Varlamov. It was the second NHL goal for Stapleton and first with the Thrashers.
Varlamov hasn't looked the same since returning from his groin and knee injuries in February, but his performance could put pressure on Jose Theodore as Washington coach Bruce Boudreau decides on a No. 1 playoff goalie. Theodore has struggled in his last two games.
NOTES: Atlanta D Pavel Kubina sat out with an upper-body injury. He was replaced by Chris Chelios, who played his fifth game with the Thrashers. ... Washington C Brooks Laich wore a full cage helmet as he returned after missing four games with facial injuries from taking a puck in the face during practice. LW Quintin Laing (lower-body) and D John Carlson (upper-body) missed the game for the Capitals. ... Boudreau is good pals with Atlanta coach John Anderson, but there's no friendly sympathy on tap this late in the season. "I want to beat him real bad," Boudreau said. "It gives you bragging rights at the golf tournament." ... Green matched his career high with his 73rd point.
Wednesday
May 14th, 2025
1:19AM
