After a brutal three game road trip and four straight losses, the Washington Capitals got back on track Monday night with a 4-3 win over the Phoenix Coyotes at Verizon Center. It wasn't easy, however, as the Caps fought back from a two goal deficit with four unanswered goals.
Nicklas Backstrom scored less than two minutes into the third period to give the Caps their first lead of the game at 3-2. Backstrom set up the goal by working down low, chasing a dump-in along the boards. The Capitals forward then set up in front of Coyotes' goalie Jason LaBarbera and was able to slam a quick rebound in front past for the Caps third unanswered goal. Alex Ovechkin, who dumped the puck into the zone, got an assist on the goal for his first point in four games.
The Caps would make it a two goal lead on the power play with 13 minutes left in the third. Brooks Laich fired a rocket from the point that LaBarbera never saw. Troy Brouwer helped out and set up the screen in front. It was the third straight game in which Laich had a point.
The Coyotes Lauri Korpikoski cut the lead back to one on a rebound in front of Tomas Vokoun. A bad angled backhand shot from Boyd Gordon set up the play in front. Vokoun stopped the first rebound but the 2nd rebound bounced to his left and landed right on the stick of Korpikoski who put it in the back of an open net for his second goal of the evening.
Washington would withstand some late Phoenix pressure and hold on for the 4-3 win to improve to 11-7-1 on the season. With the losing streak now over, the Caps will host the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday.
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