Capitals 4, Panthers 0
Alex Ovechkin scored twice and Tomas Vokoun made 42 saves as the Washington Capitals seized first place in the Southeast Division with a convincing 4-0 win over the visiting Florida Panthers on Tuesday.
Ovechkin's first multi-goal game of 2012 paced the Capitals, who own a one-point lead over the Panthers. Florida has a game in hand.
Vokoun was sensational, fending off a series of Panthers barrages en route to his fourth shutout of the season and 48th of his career.
The Capitals needed only 13 seconds to hit the scoreboard. Jason Chimera centered a pass to Mathieu Perrault, whose shot eluded Florida netminder Scott Clemmensen.
Ovechkin extended the lead at 9:21, streaking down the wing before whistling a shot past Clemmensen with Washington enjoying a power play.
Chimera's shorthanded goal 1:01 into the second frame made it a 3-0 game, and Ovechkin struck again at 11:47 with a wrist shot from the high slot after Florida failed to clear the puck.