Alexander Semin gets hat trick as Capitals win, 4-3

WASHINGTON — Alexander Semin scored three goals and Tomas Fleischmann got the game-winner 1 minute 37 seconds into overtime, giving the Washington Capitals a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers on Saturday night.

Atlanta tied it on a goal by Evander Kane with 32.9 seconds left in regulation shortly after pulling goalie Chris Mason for an extra skater.

In overtime, however, Fleischmann banged in a backhander to provide the Capitals with their eighth consecutive home win over the Thrashers.

It was the fourth hat trick of his career for Semin, who came in with two goals in Washington’s first seven games. Semin got his first goal in the second period and brought the Capitals back from a 2-1 deficit by scoring twice in the final 15 minutes.

Kane scored two goals, Andrew Ladd had one, and Mason finished with 40 saves. But it wasn’t enough to prevent the Thrashers from absorbing their third straight defeat.

Mathieu Perreault had assists on Washington’s final two goals in regulation. On the last one, Perreault skated from the right boards between the circles before passing to a wide-open Semin, who scored with 6:32 remaining.