Laich the hero as Hunter gets first NHL win over Ottawa

Posted on December 04, 2011

Brooks Laich scored the game-winning goal in overtime to lock up Dale Hunter's first National Hockey League victory Saturday night in a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. Washington opened the scoring in the first period early when Nicklas Backstrom took a feed from John Carlson and scored his ninth goal of the season just 1:58 into the game. Ottawa fired 16 shots at Michal Neuvirth in the first period, compared to just eight for the Capitals. Craig Anderson made seven saves in the first for the Sens. The roles were reversed in the second period, as the Capitals fired 16 shots on goal and could not score. Ottawa picked up just eight, but found the only goal of the frame. Erik Karlsson got the credit for the goal with the right point shot, even with a deflection en route, his second tally of the season. Both goaltenders stopped 23 shots of 24 through 40 minutes of action. The teams traded goals in the third period, with Troy Brouwer first scoring his seventh of the season at 5:01, but Ottawa would tie the game late Milan Michalek scoring his team leading 16th goal of the season at 16:45 of the third. Regulation would end with the game tied at 2-2, but as it turned out, the stage was just being set for Brooks Laich. Laich, who was drafted by Ottawa 10 years ago, scored the game winning goal just 12 seconds into sudden death to send the fans home happy. The goal was Laich's fifth of the season, and the Capitals win for Dale Hunter's first NHL win behind the bench. The Capitals head to Florida Monday to play the Panthers, in the beginning of a two-game road trip. Washington will play four of its next six away from home, hosting Toronto next Friday night at Verizon Center.