Tomas Fleischmann scored twice, Jose Theodore allowed just one late goal, and the Washington Capitals cruised to a 6-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche before an announced crowd of 14,172, on the second game of a four-game road trip.

The Caps (21-7-6) were up 5-0 toward the end of the second period, when David Koci slammed Mike Green from behind, leaving the Caps defenseman face-down on the ice for several moments.  Teammate John Erskine stood up for his fallen teammate by going to-to-toe with the much larger Koci afterward.

Koci was penalized with a five-minute boarding major and both players received fighting and 10-minute misconducts.  Erskine took a two-minute instagator call as well.

Coach Bruce Boudreau was steamed after the game about the hit.  "Fifteen feet, he saw Green's No. 52, and it didn't stop him one iota from hitting him in the back and going for the head," Boudreau said. "So I hope they throw the book at him."

"To me that's just a bush-league hit," Boudreau added.

Green received stitches over his left eye, but pronounced himself fit to play Friday night in Vancouver.

Morrisonn also has a dust-up with Koci, and his status for Friday is "questionable," according to Boudreau.

With Green and Morrisonn out, Brooks Laich took a couple of penalty kills shifts in the third period with the team down to four defensemen.  At one point, Tom Poti and John Erskine were both in the box, leaving the team with just two defensemen, which prompted the promotion of Laich to the blueline.

Washington also recieved goals from Mike Knuble (6), Dave Steckel (2), Matt Bradley (6), and Nicklas Backstrom (11).  Kyle Wilson, recalled from Hershey and making his NHL debut on his 25th birthday, had two assists, as did Chris Clark.

Theodore made 27 saves in his return to Colorado, where he played for two season before joining the Capitals.  He played solid in goal, turning away everything that made it through to him until 11:21 remaining in the game, when Washington held a comfortable 5-0 margin.

It was the first loss for Colorado against an Eastern Conference team at home this season.

The Caps have a couple days off in western Canada before facing Vancouver on Friday night.

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THREE STARS

1. T. Fleischmann - WAS (Goals: 2, Assists: 0)
2. M. Bradley - WAS (Goals: 1, Assists: 1)
3. K. Wilson - WAS (Goals: 0, Assists: 2)

Despite another outstanding performance by goalie Semyon Varlamov, the Washington Capitals were fairly dominated by the home-standing Pittsburgh Penguins in their 3-2 overtime loss on Wednesday night.

Varlamov, the just turned 21-year old rookie netminder, saved 39 of 42 shots, many in spectacular fashion. But he could not stop the final shot, a slap shot from the point by Kris Letang, that was tipped and redirected past him by his own defenseman, Shaone Morrisonn.

The game-winner came at 11:23 of overtime, at the end of another flurry of shots and extended offensive zone play for the Penguins.

Pittsburgh played most of the game in the Capitals' end, and it really showed on the scoresheet. The Penguins out shot the Caps 42-23 and were awarded seven power play opportunities to the Capitals' two.

Washington was not happy about the imbalance of penalties handed out.

Alex Ovechkin, who had a goal and an assist, said, "I don't want to talk about the referees, too. They only had two penalties, it's kind of a joke."

Coach Bruce Boudreau did talk about the referees. "As far as penalties go, I hope I never hear them [The Penguins] complain about penalties again, picks, and everything else.I think we might have deserved the penalties, but they sure as hell deserved a few more than they got."

He again praised his goaltender though, "When you get a goaltending effort like that, you have to win because they don't come around every day."

The Caps owned play early, controlling the first ten minutes of the game. Ovechkin started the scoring at 1:23 of the first, as Pens' goalie Marc-Andre Fleury misplayed a puck behind his net, which sent the rubber in front of the goal to a charging Ovechkin, in the right place at the right time. Ovie buried it into the open net for his eighth goal of the playoffs.

Ruslan Fedotenko tied it midway through the second. Tom Poti got caught up ice, sending Fedotenko in on a two-on-one with Maxime Talbot against Morrisonn. Fedotenko tried to saucer a pass through Morrisonn, but the defenseman blocked the pass.

Unfortunately, he put it right back on the Russian winger's stick, and he lifted it past Varlamov, who had been sliding over to block Talbot.

Evgeni Malkin, who played a dominant Game Three after disappearing for the first two contests, scored Pittsburgh's go-ahead goal. With Alexander Semin off for hooking, he carried the puck into the offensive zone, deked Brooks Laich, carried to the high slot and shot high against a screened Varlamov for his fifth goal of the post-season, his first in this series.

"He [Malkin] was at another level," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. "He was dominant with the puck and he had the goal, which was fantastic."

Nicklas Backstrom netted the tying goal with 1:50 remaining. On just the Caps' second power play of the night, thanks to a Pascual Dupuis interference call, Backstrom had the puck along the goal line, and he banked the puck off Fleury's backside to send the game into overtime.

Pittsburgh was just 1-for-7 on the power play despite the obvious advantage. But where the advantage really showed was in the legs of the Capitals defenders. Washington was noticeably slow to the puck and lost most man-on-man battles, a sign of weariness.

D.C. Sports Bog has a graphic description of the energy level from both teams.

The Caps were outhit in Game Three 44-31. The official scoresheet says that the Capitals committed only three giveaways, but the Pittsburgh scorers are notorious for poor attribution for the visiting teams in this regard.

Both teams complained vociferously about the condition of the ice surface at Mellon Arena after the game, and it was obvious watching the game that the puck was bouncing all over the place.

"The ice was really bad," Pens defenseman Brooks Orpik said, "and something we talked about going into the overtime was just put pucks on net, you never know."

"In overtime ice was just a mess, pucks just bouncing and stuff," Ovechkin said, describing one particular play in overtime where he was trying to get a shot off. "We have 3-on-2, [Hal] Gill goes down and I have probably 100 percent chance to score goals but puck just stopped moving."

The Washington Capitals built a 3-1 first period lead, thanks to goals from three different defensemen, and cruised to a 5-3 victory over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden to even the best-of-seven series at three games apiece.

For the second year in a row, the Capitals have come from behind in a series to force a Game Seven at home. Washington hopes this season the result will be different.

Milan Jurcina, Mike Green, and Tom Poti all got the puck past the Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist, who looked all but impenetrable earlier in the series. Viktor Kozlov and Alex Ovechkin each added second period markers, and for the second straight game Lundqvist watched the third period from the bench.

"He can't play every game like a god," Ovechkin said of Lundqvist, who had stopped 141 of 149 shots in the first four games when the Rangers grabbed a 3-1 series lead. "He can't save the game all the time."

Simeon Varlamov made 29 saves for the win. New York out shot Washington 32-22, but the Caps only had two shots on goal in the third period due to playing short-handed much of the frame, as they took four minor penalties.

But the Rangers did very little with all that power play time, as they went 2-for-8 with the advantage for the game.

Tom Poti, who toiled for the Rangers before joining the Capitals, was the player of the game. In addition to his goal, he had three helpers, and logged 23:46, most on the squad.

The game had several interesting sub-plots as well, with a couple that will bear further scrutiny.

First, the Rangers played without coach John Tortorella, who was suspended for Game Six as a result of his altercation with fans during Game Five at Verizon Center. Tortorella was caught on camera throwing a water bottle and brandishing a stick at fans behind the bench.

That prompted the Rangers organization to file a letter with the Commissioner's Office requesting an inquiry into the security at Verizon Center. It read, in part:

"...we respectfully request that you consider appropriate discipline in light of Washington's gross negligence in ensuring the safety of the personnel on the Rangers' bench, including Coach Tortorella, in the face of the Rangers' repeated requests for intervention against egregious fan misconduct during Game 5. "

The email to Commissioner Gary Bettman continued:

"...several people seated immediately behind the visitors' bench took advantage of the looseness of the glass panels and the unusually wide gaps between the panels to assault the Rangers with some of the most obscene language imaginable. Because of the way the glass is installed, the patron sitting behind Coach Tortorella (the gray-haired, bearded man in the white T-Shirt) could literally scream into the coach's ear. According to Rangers trainer Jim Ramsay, one patron was screaming at the team, in graphic language, about whether Dan Girardi and Marc Staal have a sexual relationship. This was within earshot of several children seated nearby. Several other fans also made repeated homophobic remarks. Moreover, Mr. Ramsay reported that he and other bench personnel were spit on by one or more "fans" as they yelled through the gaps in the glass. "

The Game Six controversies started in the pre-game skate, as Donald Brashear had words with Rangers' tough guy Colton Orr at center ice. As Brashear started away, he gave Orr a shove with his stick and glove. Physical altercations during pre-games skates are expressly forbidden and the incident is just part of Brashear's conduct that will be reviewed from this game.

Late in the first period, Brashear laid out Rangers forward Blair Betts with a vicious hit from his shoulder to Betts' upper body, knocking the ace penalty killer to the ice, and he needed assistance to the locker room. He is doubtful for Game Seven.

The check, which did not earn a penalty, came as Betts had cleared the puck and was starting to turn for the bench. He never saw Brashear coming.

In the second period, Brandon Dubinsky ran at Mike Green from behind, sending Green head-first into the boards. Shaone Morrisonn came to Green's defense, and according to the Rangers interim coach Jim Schoenfeld, Dubinsky needed a tetanus shot from Morrisonn biting him.

Game Seven is Tuesday night at Verizon Center at 7:00 p.m. Extra security for the Rangers bench is expected.
__________________________________________________
SCORESHEET

1ST PERIOD
07:09 Milan Jurcina (1), Snap Shot. Assist: Laich, Steckel
08:15 Power Play - Scott Gomez (2), Tip-In. Assist: Redden, Avery
13:58 Power Play - Mike Green (1), Wrist Shot. Assist: Semin, Poti
17:14 Tom Poti (2), Tip-In. Assist: Steckel, Gordon

2ND PERIOD
09:21 Viktor Kozlov (2), Wrist Shot. Assist: Poti, Fedorov
16:44 Power Play - Alex Ovechkin (3), Slap Shot. Assist: Poti, Backstrom

3RD PERIOD
04:21 Power Play - Ryan Callahan (2), Backhand Shot. Assist: Morris, Gomez
19:54 Marc Staal (1), Wrist Shot. Assist: Korpikoski, Sjostrom
__________________________________________________
THREE STARS

1. T. Poti - WAS (Goals: 1, Assists: 3)
2. S. Varlamov - WAS (Saves: 29, Save Pct: .906)
3. A. Ovechkin - WAS (Goals: 1, Assists: 0)

"What I can say about him?" reigning Hart Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin said. "He is a good player, but he talks too much."

"Like it or lump it, that's what he does," Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby said about Ovechkin's checking, insinuating dirty play. "Some people like it, some people don't. Personally, I don't like it."

"I play hard. If he wants to do something like hit me again, try to hit me again -- and I'll talk to you guys [about] who plays dirty," Ovechkin said. "That's my game. It's not cheap shots, it's a game moment. But he doesn't like it, it's his problem."

Ah yes, now that we have that settled, we can talk about a hockey game.

The Washington Capitals (38-17-5, first in Southeast) defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins (29-26-6, fourth in Atlantic) 5-2 before a raucous, sold out Verizon Center Sunday afternoon on national television.

The Capitals got goals from five different players, and held the Pens' dynamic duo to an assist apiece in turning back the tenth place team in the conference, despite being granted eight power play chances to DC's three, including all three man-advantages int he third period. Pittsburgh went just 1-for-8 with the extra man. The Caps went two-for-three.

The Capitals are 3-0 against the Penguins this season and 4-1-1 since Bruce Boudreau took over in November 2007. The Caps have won 13 straight at home against Eastern Conference opponents and hold the East's best home record at 24-5-1 overall.

The win gives the Caps their best record through 60 games in franchise history.

Washington received goals from Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Sergei Fedorov, Shaone Morrisonn and Brooks Laich, chasing Peguins starting goalie Marc-Andre Fleury after Laich's tally. Pittsburgh got markers from Maxime Talbot and Sergei Gonchar, playing in just his fourth game this season since returning from a shoulder injury.

Jose Theodore made 31 saves in the win for Washington.

Maxime Talbot and Sergei Gonchar scored for the Penguins, losers of six of seven on the road.

Never was the status of this rivalry more evident than late in the second period, as both superstars were exiting the ice for a line change. Ovie gave Crosby a shoulder check and Crosby responded by trying to dump Ovechkin over the boards and into the Caps team bench. Ovechkin grabbed Crosby by the back of the neck, pulling his helmet off in the process, right in front of Washington's bench, and on-ice reporter Pierre McGuire for NBC.

A linesman stepped between the players and the jawing continued, but Ovechkin got the last word in waving "bye bye" to Sid the Kid as Crosby was pushed toward the Penguins bench, much like a petulant child sent to a "time out".

"I think he got frustrated because he wasn't getting the freedom he's had in this building before," Boudreau said of Crosby's dust-up with Ovechkin. "It adds spice. It's entertainment. It gets your blood boiling a bit. And every time Alex gets a little more excitable, it can be good for us."

The Capitals face their other rival from the Commonwealth, the Philadelphia Flyers, Tuesday night at 7:00 pm from Verizon Center. Philly fell to Pittsburgh Saturday night 5-4, and are fourth in the conference with 71 points.

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SCORESHEET

1ST PERIOD
06:53 Power Play - Alex Ovechkin (43), Snap Shot. Assist: Backstrom, Fedorov
12:08 Maxime Talbot (8), Wrist Shot. Assist: Eaton, Orpik
13:02 Power Play - Alexander Semin (22), Wrist Shot. Assist: Backstrom, Green

2ND PERIOD
00.56 Sergei Fedorov (6), Slap Shot. Assist: Semin
04:46 Power Play - Sergei Gonchar (2), Slap Shot. Assist: Crosby, Malkin
12:56 Shaone Morrisonn (3), Slap Shot. Assist: Ovechkin, Fehr
13:21 Brooks Laich (14), Wrist Shot. Assist: Poti, Morrisonn

3RD PERIOD
None

__________________________________________________

THREE STARS

1. S. Fedorov - WAS (Goals: 1, Assists: 1)

2. A. Ovechkin - WAS (Goals: 1, Assists: 1)

3. A. Semin - WAS (Goals: 1, Assists: 1)

• Alex Ovechkin returned to practice today and will play tomorrow at Ottawa. He expressed thanks to the Caps organization for allowing him the time to be with his grandfather.

• Shaone Morrisonn also practiced after being rushed to the hospital during the game against Buffalo. Apparently, he was spitting up blood after getting hit in the first period Saturday night and was taken to the hospital out of an abundance of caution.

• John Erskine did not practice today, and is questionable for tomorrow's game. Federov skated on the blue line for practice and will play D if Erskine can't go. This is a flare-up of the calf injury first sustained at Calgary.

• Alexander Semin was named NHL's "First Star" of the month of October, formerly known as "Player of the Month". He led the league in points for the month with 16.

• Keith Aucoin of Hershey was named the AHL's Player of the Month, making it a sweep for top honors in the two highest leagues.