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Caps Go From Bad to Worse
The Thrashers' Eric Perrin celebrates his goal as the puck settles in the net behind Capitals goalie Olie Kolzig.
(Richard A. Lipski - The Washington Post)
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Against the Thrashers, it was a bit of everything.
"We were careless," defenseman Brian Pothier said. "We made some plays that burnt us. It seems like that has been the story for us. Everything we give to somebody, they just take full advantage of it right now."
Alex Ovechkin put the Capitals ahead with his 14th goal 2 minutes 27 seconds into the second period after firing an off-balance shot past Johan Hedberg (31 saves).
After that, it was all Thrashers, who cruised to their seventh win in eight games, and 11th out of 15 since GM Don Waddell took over behind the bench after firing coach Bob Hartley following an 0-6 start.
Atlanta's first goal began with Kovalchuk (two goals, two assists) initiating a give-and-go with defenseman Niclas Havelid, who returned the puck to the powerful winger as he broke into the Capitals' zone. Kovalchuk beat Capitals defenseman Tom Poti to the slot, then fired the puck under Kozlig's blocker to make it 1-1 at 6:55. Kolzig finished with 20 saves.
Bobby Holik put the Thrashers ahead 2-1 on the power play at 16:05. The hulking captain pounced on a rebound then flipped the puck over Kolzig, who was still sprawled from making the initial save on Hossa from in close.
Atlanta wasn't done. Havelid snapped a shot from the top of the circle after taking a perfectly placed pass from Kovalchuk. Havelid had just come off the bench after a line change and was left unmarked as he wound up and fired to put the visitors ahead 3-1.
Third-period goals by Kovalchuk and Eric Perrin provided the final margin.
"There's little room for error when you're losing," Pothier said. "You have to play a perfect game. You have to."
