Bondra, Whitfield lead Caps past Senators 3-2
OTTAWA (AP) -- Peter Bondra and the Washington Capitals are peaking just in time for the final stop of their Canadian road trip.

Bondra and Trent Whitfield each had a goal and an assist in Washington's 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Friday night. Sergei Berezin scored for the second consecutive game and Olaf Kolzig made 30 saves for the Capitals, who won their second consecutive.

Washington improved to 3-2-0 on its six-game, cross-Canada road trip that concludes in Toronto on Saturday.

''It's been a pretty long trip,'' Bondra said. ''Overall, I think we've played well and that's what we need, to play team hockey like we did tonight and play our system.''

The Capitals, sixth overall in the Eastern Conference with 87 points, closed to two points of Southeast Division-leading Tampa Bay.

''Some teams might have the luxury to take a break or rest some bodies, but we'll play to the end,'' Bondra said. ''It's definitely a big difference when you win the division and get home-ice advantage.''

Martin Havlat scored twice for Ottawa, which ended a four-game unbeaten streak as it failed in its second attempt for a franchise-record 49th victory.

''It's nice to score two goals, but it's not that nice to see your team lose,'' Havlat said. ''I think we didn't play hard enough for 60 minutes. We just played well in the third and you can't win a game like that.''

The Senators, who have four games remaining, still lead the NHL with 105 points.

Bondra opened the scoring with his 27th goal early in the first period and set up Whitfield's first NHL goal in more than two years 16:44 into the second to put Washington up 3-1.

''I just wanted to come out and work hard, and fortunately the puck bounced my way tonight,'' Whitfield said.

Bondra had a chance to increase the Capitals' lead to three late in the period but his shot on a three-on-one opportunity struck the post behind goalie Patrick Lalime.

Ottawa took advantage of the missed scoring chance as Radek Bonk set up Havlat with a breakaway pass. Havlat, who scored his 22nd to tie it 6:56 into the first, got his second of the game -- his 23rd -- with 35 seconds left in the second to draw the Senators to one down.

''The momentum definitely changed, but they took a penalty at the end of the period and we got some momentum to start the third with a power play,'' Bondra said.

Ottawa successfully killed Zdeno Chara's roughing penalty to begin the third, but failed to get the tying goal despite outshooting Washington 10-4 in the period. The Capitals were outshot 32-18 overall.

''The third period was our best, but we just didn't score,'' Havlat said. ''(Kolzig) played pretty good the whole game, but our performance wasn't that great -- not like we wanted to play.''

Game notes
Referee Kerry Fraser officiated his 1,475th game, tying Andy van Hellemond's NHL record. ... Capitals center Brian Sutherby had two assists. ... Whitfield had failed to record a point in nine games with Washington this season. He went 47 NHL games without a goal since scoring against Ottawa on March 11, 2001. ... Senators right wing Marian Hossa is one goal short of Alexei Yashin's team record of 44 goals, set in 1998-99.