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Nylander paces Caps past Canucks

Mon 13th, October 2008

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Michael Nylander scored on a penalty shot and added two assists, as Washington handed Vancouver its first loss of the young campaign, 5-1, in a bout at the Verizon Center.

"We played really well defensively," said an understated Nylander. "And when you do that we can make turnovers for the other team and score goals and play good. We played a simple hockey game, and we scored on our chances."

Alexander Semin scored twice, Mike Green added a goal and an assist and Milan Jurcina also lit the lamp in the victory.

Brent Johnson only allowed one goal on just 10 shots against him, picking up his 100th career victory. The Washington defense was superb -- allowing a franchise-best 10 shots on goal --, while the offense peppered a pair of Vancouver goaltenders with 35 shots.

Roberto Luongo saved 20, allowing all five Washington goals past him, and Curtis Sanford was solid in relief, denying all 10 shots he faced.

"I don't have many words," said Luongo. "It was a tough loss from beginning to end. At least at one point we thought they would end up with more goals than we had shots, so at least we were able to beat that side of it. Not a pretty game, put it behind us and move forward here."

Alexander Edler scored the lone Canucks goal.

Washington struck the initial blow early in the first period. A puck that scooted along the boards eventually found the stick of Semin courtesy of Nylander and Green. Semin skated to the front of the crease, bought enough time to judge the goaltender's position and flipped a backhand high and to the glove side into the net just 2:54 into the contest.

The lead lasted just 68 seconds. Edler found the puck off a deflection and flipped it past Johnson into the net on the one-man advantage to square the contest.

Washington regained the edge with 3:49 left in the first period. Nylander was again a helping hand, moving with the puck along the back boards to the side of the net before sliding a pass to the center point, where Green clocked a slapshot that whistled past Luongo for a 2-1 edge on the power play.

The Capitals kept on the attack in the second period. Off a face-off in the Vancouver zone, the Capitals controlled the puck and it ended up with Jurcina, who slapped a shot from near the blue line that was re-directed by a defender's skate past Luongo on the glove side at the 4:17 mark.

Semin lit the lamp for a second time after a mad scrum in front of the net just 66 seconds later. The forward controlled the loose puck on his stick in traffic near the front of the net and punched the puck past Luongo for the 4-1 advantage.

Nylander stopped aiding scoring chances and capitalized on his own late in the second period. After a major penalty on the power play, Nylander got Luongo off balance with his patience and puck skills then dumped the puck into the net for the 5-1 advantage at the 16:36 mark.

Game Notes

The Canucks were 1-of-4 on the power play, while the Capitals converted on half of their four chances...Luongo dropped to 15-10 lifetime against the Capitals, while Johnson was between the pipes after Jose Theodore started the first two contests.