The Washington Capitals took possession of first place in the Southeast Division on Monday night with a 4-0 shutout victory over the Florida Panthers. It was a dominating performance for Dale Hunter's club. The Caps were badly outshot 42-24 but goalie Tomas Vokoun was there to stuff every shot that came his way, getting his second shutout against his old team this season.
Alex Ovechkin had his 67th career multi-goal game. Ovechkin gave Washington a two-goal lead at the end of the first, scoring on the power play after a Marcel Goc penalty. Ovie then scored on a highlight-reel wrist shot from the center that beat Scott Clemmensen over the right shoulder. It was a nasty unassisted goal that gave the captain his first multi-goal game of the season.
The Caps killed off two penalties in the third period and Vokoun stood tall in net to keep it at 4-0 and take a one-point lead in the division. An injured Brooks Laich finished with nine and a half minutes of ice time, limiting his minutes in the third. The Caps now host another division foe in Winnipeg on Thursday.
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