Die Anpflanzler [DA] » Sports Writer Dave

BOSTON -- Alex Ovechkin looks as if hes ready to carry the Washington Capitals to one of the Eastern Conferences final playoff spots. Coming off a strong game two days earlier, Ovechkin collected his 800th career point and raised his league-leading total to 43 goals with a pair of power-play scores, leading the Capitals to a 4-2 victory over the Boston Bruins on Saturday afternoon. "I think were just playing more solid right now," said Ovechkin, who became the 150th player to collect 800 points. "We dont have time to make mistakes. Every point right now is very important for us." Joel Ward and Eric Fehr also scored, and Braden Holtby made 36 saves for the Capitals, who won their fourth straight in their push for the playoffs. "I think we were missing our swagger a little bit," Ward said of his teams play before the Olympic break. "When our team plays with a little bit of cockiness we seem to get wins. We were missing that before the break. Were finding ways to win. The bottom line is were winning games." Ovechkin had the go-ahead goal and two assists in a 5-4 win at Florida on Thursday. Its his first season of 40-plus goals since collecting 40-plus in his first five seasons from 2005-06 to 2009-10. The Capitals star winger even impressed Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask with his second goal. "The second one it seemed like he was going short side and it just kind of knuckled in," Rask said, breaking into a slight smile to show how impressed he was with the shot. "I was trying to ask him and he was kind of shaking his shoulders. Its funny when you see those. He was kind of leaning into it. Its like impossible to go the other way and it goes the other way. Youre like, Come on, buddy." Washington, which hosts Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon, remained one point behind the Flyers for the conferences eighth and final playoff spot. Patrice Bergeron and Shawn Thornton had Bostons goals. Rask stopped 27 shots in his first start since winning the bronze medal with Finland at the Sochi Olympics. It was just the Bruins second regulation loss in their past 13 games (8-2-3). The Bruins lost 5-4 in overtime at Buffalo on Wednesday. "Were getting caught cheating too much in the offensive side and its ending up in the back of the net," Boston coach Claude Julien said. "Its something we need to fix because were giving up too many goals." Bruins captain Zdeno Chara was disappointed how his team started out. "For sure that wasnt our best game," he said. "We could have done a number of things differently and better. We have to learn from games like this, especially against an opponent like this." The Capitals opened a 3-0 lead on second-period goals by Ovechkin and Ward. Similar to his first score of the game, Ovechkin one-timed a blistering shot over the right shoulder of Rask inside the far post from the left circle for his milestone point. Ward stole a puck near the blue line from defenceman Johnny Boychuk, broke in alone and shifted to his backhand before tucking a shot behind Rask for an unassisted score midway into the period. The Bruins cut it to 3-1 on Bergerons power-play goal 41 seconds later when he snapped off a shot from the slot that beat Holtby inside the left post. Thorntons centring pass was inadvertently tipped past Holtby by defenceman Mike Green as he was skating hard to the net battling for position with Bruins forward Gregory Campbell at 17:32. The goal was originally credited to Campbell, but changed early in the third. But the Capitals made it 4-2 when Fehr scored on a clean breakaway midway into the third. He poked the puck into an open area near centre ice from his own blue line, skated in on Rask and beat him between the pads. Holtby made a key pad save on Chris Kellys breakaway bid while his team was on a power play with 3:06 to play. Washington led 1-0 after one on Ovechkins first goal. He one-timed John Carlsons pass from the left circle inside the far post at 18:39. The Capitals held Boston to one shot on goal when they were short-handed for a full two minutes after Jay Beagle was called for holding and Tom Wilson high-sticking during the delayed penalty early in the first period. "That was a big kill for us," Holtby said. "I didnt know it was a 5-on-3 until I looked up on the faceoff. The guys made some big plays. I think one or two shots got through." NOTES: Capitals RW Martin Erat, who had to leave Thursdays game after injuring his left foot, tried to skate during pregame warmups but came off quickly and was not in the lineup. ... Washington C Mikhail Grabovski was also out after re-injuring his left ankle Thursday. ... It was the first of three meetings between the teams. ... Nicklas Backstrom collected an assist on Ovechkins first goal to pass Peter Bondra for seventh place on the clubs all-time list with 354 assists. ... It was the second game since the Olympic break for both teams. ... Boston faces the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night. ... Washingtons entered the game with the leagues second-best power play. Daniel Alfredsson Jersey .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6. Mark Stone Jersey .J. -- The New York Jets have promoted Tony Sparano Jr. http://www.senatorssale.com/ .com) - Ames, IA (SportsNetwork. Matt Duchene Jersey . 28 with a Vancouver entry for the first time in 10 years and a novel new collective bargaining agreement. Custom Ottawa Senators Jerseys .The third-seeded Murray, who won here in 2009, will face seventh-seeded Kevin Anderson of South Africa next on the indoor hard court.SAN JOSE, Calif. - A night after giving San Jose an opening to the Pacific Division title by winning in Anaheim, the Nashville Predators might have closed it up again by beating the Sharks. Patric Hornqvist had two goals and one assist to help the Nashville Predators put a major dent into San Joses hopes for a division title by beating the Sharks 3-0 on Saturday night. "Its a missed opportunity," defenceman Dan Boyle said. "Nashville went into their building and did their job. Unfortunately, we didnt do ours to take advantage of that." Backup Carter Hutton made 35 saves in his first career shutout and Roman Josi also scored as the Predators kept their slim playoff hopes alive by beating winning road games on back-to-back nights against Anaheim and San Jose — the top two teams in the Pacific Division. Nashville is six points behind Dallas for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with four games remaining. "Were never going to give up," Hornqvist said. "Its a long road to make the playoffs. But as long as we have a chance, were going to work as hard as we can. Obviously beating two great teams is nice. I think both of them can win the Cup. Its a good statement for our team." The Predators win in Anaheim on Friday kept the Sharks just a point behind the Ducks in the standings but San Jose couldnt capitalize two nights after an emotional home win over Los Angeles. Now the Sharks are running out of time to catch the Ducks after falling flat again against a team likely to miss the post-season. They have only three games remaining, including their next contest in Anaheim on Wednesday, but the Ducks still have five games remaining and the inside track on the division title. San Jose is assured of at least second place. "After the game we put together against L.A. to give a showing like that is unacceptable," defenceman Jason Demers said. "We didnt come out to work. We just sat back on our heels and let them take the game to us. Its disappointing and something were going to have to obviously rectify as quick as possible here.dddddddddddd" If the Sharks do end up falling short in the division it will be their play at home against some of the leagues also-rans that will be a big reason. San Jose has lost five home games since the Olympic break, all to teams that are currently out of playoff position. "Were in a race and we have to be better than that," captain Joe Thornton said. The Predators took control of the game in a dominant second period, killing off a pair of penalties and beating Antti Niemi three times. Hornqvist struck early in the period when he whacked at a rebound of Matt Cullens shot and knocked it in to extend his goal-scoring streak to four games. He added his eighth goal in the past 11 games midway through the period just after Nick Spaling came out of the penalty box. Spaling got the puck behind San Joses net and set up Hornqvist for a one-timer from the slot for his 20th goal of the season. Hornqvist then got an assist a few minutes later when Josi beat a flat-footed Demers as he drove to the net to make it 3-0. "We were emotionally not attached to the game in the second period," coach Todd McLellan said. "Were at Game 79 and the details and the system play, you should be able to do it in your sleep at this point. We didnt do that." The Sharks pressured in the third with 19 shots and two others from Brent Burns and Matt Irwin that hit posts but couldnt beat Hutton. The Predators have put together an impressive late-season run with points in seven of their past eight games. But it likely wont be enough to overcome a 1-4 homestand after the Olympic break that put Nashville in a deep hole. "This team wont quit," coach Barry Trotz said. "It hasnt quit all year. Its not going to quit. They will play right until the end. We see when the smoke clears where we stand." NOTES: Nashville swept the three-game season series and has won nine of 14 against the Sharks. ... The Sharks last overcame a 3-0 deficit in the regular season on Feb. 1, 2011, when they rallied for a 5-3 win over Phoenix. ' ' '