Tomas Fleischmann, Viktor Kozlov and Alexander Semin scored in the first period Tuesday, sending Washington to a 4-2 win over Atlanta. Simeon Varlamov made 29 saves for the Capitals, who now have 106 points and a four-point lead in the Southeast Division with two games left.

Rich Peverley's second goal of the game put Atlanta in front in the third period Friday and the Thrashers went on to down Florida 3-1. The Panthers missed a chance to move into an eighth-place tie with the idle New York Rangers in the fight for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Kari Lehtonen made 25 saves Friday night to record his second shutout of the season, giving the Atlanta Thrashers a 2-0 triumph over Montreal. Bryan Little scored on the power play with 2:32 to play in the first period and it remained a 1-0 game until Rich Peverley put one into an empty net with 36 seconds left in the contest. Lehtonen, who has 13 shutouts for his NHL career, helped the Thrashers improve to 2-1 on a four-game homestand. Ilya Kovalchuk had an assist on both goals, giving him five goals and six assists during a six-game point streak.

Ilya Kovalchuk capped a four-goal third-period burst Saturday night and scored five points in the Atlanta Thrashers' 5-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Kovalchuk scored his 33rd goal in the second period and his 34th (empty net) with three seconds left in the contest.

Rookie goalie Michal Neuvirth stopped 21-of-24 shots Thursday night to help the Washington Capitals skate to a 4-3 win over the Atlanta Flames. Neuvirth, playing in just his second NHL contest, was bombarded by six shots in the final five minutes of the third period -- including Todd White's unassisted goal at the 18:03 mark -- but in the end, he came away with his second victory. Alexander Semin led Washington with a goal and two assists.