Capitals shrug off Ovechkin absence to edge Preds

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Washington Capitals overcame the absence of league MVP Alex Ovechkin to edge the Nashville Predators 4-3 in a shootout on Tuesday.

Ovechkin returned to Russia earlier this week to visit his 83-year-old ill grandfather, ending a 203 consecutive-game streak for last season's scoring champion.

Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau said he was delighted with the win but was expecting the club to struggle without their leader.

"For short periods of time the guys are going to really dig deep and play hard," he said. "But can they sustain it without Alex? Definitely not. He's the best player in the world.

"You want him back as soon as you can get him back but you understand the situation."

The Capitals out-shot the Predators 19-4 in the opening period when they took a 2-1 lead but managed just 10 total shots in the second and third periods, squandering several chances against Nashville netminder Dan Ellis.

"You always worry when you outshoot a team 19-4 in the first period and you don't have a substantial lead," Boudreau added. "In sports, it always comes back to haunt you."

SEMIN SCORES

Ovechkin's compatriot left wing Alexander Semin beat Ellis with a one-timer just two minutes into the third period to give Washington a 3-2 lead.

The goal was Semin's eighth of the season and hiked his NHL-leading point total to 16.

However, Jason Arnott countered for the Predators with his second goal of the game with just over six minutes remaining in the final period to tie the score at 3-3 and force the overtime.

A Michael Nylander tally in the fourth round of the shootout provided the winning margin for the Capitals, who climbed to the top of the Southeast Division with a 5-3-1 record.

Despite the offensive woes in the final two periods, Capitals center Brooks Laich said the victory helped prove the team had alternative attacking options than just Ovechkin.

"It shows we're not just a one-man team," he said. "We had been criticized about that a couple of years ago but I don't think you can say that anymore.

"We have a bunch of fantastic players that don't get enough recognition. Alex Semin is one of them."

"We showed everybody we're a good team with Alex or without Alex," Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom added. "He's the NHL's best player. Of course we miss him. But tonight was a team win."

The Capitals were unsure if Ovechkin would be back for Saturday's game at Buffalo.

(Reporting by Steve Ginsburg; Editing by John O'Brien)