WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- The Florida Panthers returned from the Olympic break with improved special teams, but Ken Klee rendered their efforts meaningless.
Klee scored the game-winner on the power play just under 9 1/2 minutes into the third period to give the Washington Capitals their third straight win, a 4-3 triumph over Florida Tuesday night.
Klee took a pass from Glen Metropolit at the right side of the crease, where he one-timed it between goaltender Roberto Luongo's pads. The puck barely trickled through and stopped on the line, but Klee followed up and tapped the puck into the open net.
In their past six games, Florida has struggled on both the penalty kill and power play. The Panthers allowed six tallies while shorthanded and managed to register just three power play goals over that span.
Pavel Bure tallied two goals, one coming shorthanded, and defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh added a power-play goal three minutes into the final period to knot the contes, 3-3. Defenseman Robert Svehla registered an assist on each goal for Florida, which has lost its last four games.
Goalie Olaf Kolzig finished with 27 saves and Adam Oates, Matt Pettinger and Jaromir Jagr scored for the Capitals, who won the season series with Florida, 3-2.
