KANATA, Ontario, Dec. 27 -- Peter Bondra, off to a good start in a bid to become the third straight member of the Capitals to earn NHL Player of the Week honors, scored four goals Wednesday night, including three in the second period, to lift Washington to a 5-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators.
Earlier Wednesday, Adam Oates was named Player of the Week, following Washington goaltender Olaf Kolzig, who garnered the award last week.
It was Bondra's first hat trick of the season and fifth career four-goal game. He had five against Tampa Bay on Feb. 5, 1994.
Washington was blanked in the first period but erupted for four goals in the second. Bondra sparked the Capitals by scoring twice in a 32-second span midway through the period. He tied it at 8:47 with the first of his two power-play goals, then stayed on the ice and scored an unassisted marker to put Washington in front.
Dmitri Khristich scored with 8:54 left in the period, giving Washington three goals in a 2:19 stretch. Bondra recorded another power-play goal with 3:09 remaining and completed his four-goal night 5 1/2 minutes into the third.
The Capitals improved to 7-1-1 in their last nine games and have won four straight on the road.
Kolzig made 31 saves and shut out Ottawa after giving up a goal to Daniel Alfredsson just 2:10 into the contest. Alfredsson had both Senators' goals in Saturday's 3-2 loss to Chicago.
Patrick Lalime turned aside 17 shots for the Senators before being pulled after the second period. Ottawa is winless in its last four games (0-2-2).NEWLN:
