Capitals Fire on All Cylinders

Defense Is Unyielding, Semin Scores Twice; Kozlov Injured: Capitals 5, Canucks 1

Vancouver Canucks star goaltender Roberto Luongo came to Washington with a perfect record and a 10-game winning streak against the Capitals, dating from 2004.

But, as Luongo was reminded often at Verizon Center last night, these aren't the same Capitals he dominated in recent seasons.

Alexander Semin had two goals, Mike Green chipped in with another, Michael Nylander scored on a penalty shot and Sergei Fedorov looked right at home on the blueline as Washington routed Luongo and the Canucks, 5-1, for their second consecutive victory.

Luongo wasn't even around for the conclusion of the Canucks' first loss, pulled after 40 minutes with the Capitals holding a 25-3 edge in shots on goal. Luongo's counterpart, Brent Johnson, earned his 100th career NHL win on a night in which he faced only 10 shots, a franchise record. The previous mark was 11.

"It was the defense and it was the forwards coming back," said Johnson, who got his first start of the season as José Théodore got the night off. "Besides the power plays, they might have had the puck in our zone steady maybe for 2 1/2 minutes."

Said Luongo: "I've got no words. It was a tough game from beginning to end."

There was some concern afterward, however, for first-line right wing Viktor Kozlov. He suffered what is believed to be a left leg injury when he was hit in the second period. He limped off the ice and did not return. Officially, he is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, according to a team official.

It's unclear how much, if any, playing time Kozlov will miss. But what wasn't in doubt was Washington's potent offense, which has 13 goals in the first three games.

And last night, the Capitals lit up the scoreboard without any points from reigning most valuable player Alex Ovechkin.

"Bodes well for the balance of the team," Coach Bruce Boudreau said. "If the other guys can keep it up, that's pretty good."

In an effort to shore up the defense against a speedy Canucks team that had scored 11 goals in its first two games, Boudreau shuffled his lineup. The biggest change involved putting Fedorov on the blueline and scratching rugged defenseman John Erskine. Boudreau had experimented in the preseason with Fedorov on defense, a position he has played sporadically throughout his NHL career.

Fedorov had an assist, four shots on goal and a plus-minus rating of plus-3, best on the team. Named the game's third star, his steady play helped partner Milan Jurcina, who had his first plus performance and his first goal in a year. Despite the success, Boudreau would not commit to keeping Fedorov on defense Thursday in Pittsburgh.