Fleischman Rallies Capitals Past Panthers 7-4

Washington Capitals right wing Chris Clark (17) mixes it up with Florida Panthers defenseman Dennis Seidenberg (4), of Germany, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

(AP)

Tomas Fleischmann scored twice during a five-goal third period, and the short-handed Washington Capitals beat the Florida Panthers 7-4 Saturday night for a sweep of their home-and-home series.

Washington played a third straight game without two-time NHL MVP Alex Ovechkin, who has an upper body injury. The Capitals were also without injured defensemen Mike Green and Jeff Schultz, both of whom were hurt Friday night during a 4-1 victory in Florida.

But the Capitals prevailed anyway. Getting 23 saves from goaltender Jose Theodore and goals 40 seconds apart from Mathieu Perreault and Quintin Laing, Washington defeated the Panthers for the second time in two nights.

In this one, the Capitals trailed 3-2 before Perreault scored his first NHL goal with 17:39 to go. Laing then scored his second of the season, and Fleischmann extended his point-scoring streak to a career-high five games with a goal off an excellent pass from Nicklas Backstrom.

Mike Knuble's second goal of the game with 8:54 remaining made it 6-4, and Fleischmann scored again with 6:22 left. Fleischmann has five goals and two assists in six games since being sidelined with a blood clot in his leg.

The seven goals were a season high for the Capitals.

Cory Stillman scored twice for the Panthers, who have lost two straight after winning three in a row. Goalie Scott Clemmensen absorbed his first loss with Florida after starting off 2-0-0.

The Panthers took their first lead at 16:03 of the second period when Kenndal McArdle sent a backhand pass from the backboards to Michal Repik, who beat Theodore with a wrist shot in the slot to make it 3-2.

That capped a three-goal period for Florida — on only 12 shots.

Washington went up 1-0 in the first period when Knuble scored from the right side of the crease after getting the puck from Brendan Morrison, who weaved behind the net with a pass from Brooks Laich.