Thrashers Stay Hot, Beat Capitals, 5-2

Marian Hossa scored twice, Ilya Kovalchuk had a goal and two assists, and the Atlanta Thrashers beat the Washington Capitals, 5-2, Sunday at Washington.

Scott Mellanby and Marc Savard had a goal and an assist apiece for Atlanta, which earned at least one point in a franchise-record nine straight games before a loss in Buffalo on Dec. 30.

“It’s huge for us after we lost in Buffalo.... Our power play didn’t work as good as we’d like to, but tonight we came up strong,” said Hossa, who was dealt by the Ottawa Senators to the Thrashers for Dany Heatley.

The Senators, the NHL’s winningest and highest-scoring team, will be in Atlanta today for the first time since the trade.

The Thrashers, who scored three power-play goals, have won three of four road games.

Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin scored a goal for the sixth straight game and Dainius Zubrus also had one for the Capitals.

Hossa was denied on a breakaway by goaltender Olaf Kolzig 12:55 into the first period, but he put the Thrashers on top at 15:25 by snapping in a shot from the left circle for his 18th goal.

Florida 2, Buffalo 1 -- Gary Roberts’ third-period power-play goal lifted the Panthers at Buffalo, N.Y., and gave them a rare road victory.

Joe Nieuwendyk also scored for Florida, and Roberto Luongo stopped 28 shots, improving to 7-2-1 in his last 10 games. Florida upped its road record to 4-14-3 in the opener of a five-game road trip.

Henrik Tallinder scored for Buffalo, which had a five-game home winning streak ended and lost for only the fifth time in 23 games (18-3-2). Of the Sabres’ 12 losses this season, three have come against the Panthers, including two at Florida.