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WASHINGTON - Alex Ovechkin played his weakest game of the season, Washington Capitals coach Barry Trotz said.No matter. He still helped his team beat the Florida Panthers.The Capitals scored on all three shots in the shootout, including the clincher by Ovechkin, and Justin Peters made 20 saves to lift Washington over the Panthers 2-1 on Saturday night.Thats nice run support, Peters cracked following his first start.Jason Chimera scored his first goal of the young season for the Capitals (3-0-2), who improved to 10-0-1 in their last 11 meetings against their former division rival.Brad Boyes power play goal for Florida (1-3-1) tied the game early in the third period.Each team scored on its first shootout attempt, and Nicklas Backstrom then put the Capitals ahead 2-1. After Peters stopped Jussi Jokinen, the Capitals turned to Ovechkin.The NHL leader in goals last season struggled in shootouts, finishing 2 of 16. He missed his only prior chance this season.Trotz passed on using Ovechkin in Tuesdays shootout loss to San Jose, and didnt exactly pick him this time, either.I honestly didnt make the call on third shooter, Trotz said. I went over to (assistant Blaine Forsythe) and said, Youve got to make the call on the third shooter.Im not taking any credit for that.When Ovechkin later noted to his coach about being skipped previously, Trotz told his star, Youre right and I didnt put you in today.(Ovechkin) showed some patience and he got the goalie to bite, Trotz said. Once the goalie was down, you know its going upstairs.One of the NHL leaders this season with five goals, Ovechkin failed to record a point for the first time in four games.That was probably (Ovechkins) weakest game so far this year for him because hes been pretty outstanding, Trotz said.The Panthers have scored five goals in five games. They did earn another road point following Fridays win at Buffalo.Definitely a big point tonight, Panthers coach Gerard Gallant said. We didnt have a great first two periods.In the third, I thought we picked it up and we scored a power play goal.In a matchup of backups, Peters outdueled Al Montoya. Washington outshot Florida 28-21 overall.The Capitals had averaged five goals in their previous three games, including a 6-2 victory over New Jersey on Thursday. They didnt keep up that potent pace, but their defensive effort ensured another scuffling outing for the Panthers.Florida was 1 for 21 on the power play before Boyes scored.Washington hasnt lost at home to Florida since Dec. 9, 2010.Situated in the left corner below the goal line, Eric Fehr spotted Chimera open just outside the far post. After receiving the pinpoint centring pass, Chimera faked Montoya out of position before backhanding the puck into the open net for a 1-0 lead 17:12 in.Neither team scored in the second period, but Brooks Laichs tip-in for Washington was disallowed because of a high-sticking call.Laich exited the game following a third period collision and didnt return. Trotz said Laich sustained an upper-body injury, but offered no additional information.Washington held Florida without a shot on its first three power plays, but the Panthers broke that cycle early in the third period.Peters stopped Sean Bergenheims close-range attempt, but Boyes put in the rebound 4:27 into the third to make it 1-1.Peters made his first start since Jan. 19 when he was with Carolina.NOTES: Dylan Olsen earned an assist on Boyes goal. ... Panthers D Willie Mitchell played in his 800th NHL game. ... Capitals rookie forward Andre Burakovsky failed to record a point for the first time in five NHL games. ... Florida concludes its four-game trip with two games out West, starting Tuesday at Colorado. ... Backstrom failed to get his 500th career point in his 500th NHL game. Nike Shox Clearance Sale . You can watch the game live on TSN and TSN GO at 3pm et/Noon pt. The Thunder reclaimed the home-court advantage LA took with a Game 1 win on Friday night with a 118-112 road win in Game 3. Nike Shox Canada Online .Y. -- Mark Steenhuis scored four goals and added two assists to lead the Buffalo Bandits over the Toronto Rock 12-10 in National Lacrosse League action on Saturday. http://www.cheapnikeshoxcanada.com/. Ive said it before, Ive worked with top pros and I could have made my own program. Nike Shox Sale Canada . But the young forward is more than willing to shed a little blood if thats what it takes to make the team this season. "It caught me pretty good, dazed me for that shift, but I didnt want to be off the ice for too long," he said after practice, his lip still bleeding a little despite the plastic stitches holding it together. Nike Shox Canada Clearance . Yoenis Cespedes proved he can play through a hurting right heel, giving Scott Kazmir and the As a spark with a pair of RBIs that helped spoil the Minnesota Twins home opener with an 8-3 victory on Monday.PITTSBURGH -- Jose Tabata heard all the rumours in advance of the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline and understood the significance of slugging prospect Andrew Lambo being called up this week. "I know people are saying the Pittsburgh Pirates need a right fielder," Tabata said. "It makes me feel like Ive got to do something. Whatever the front office wants to do, thats their thing. I just want to help my team win." Tabata did that Friday night with a two-run homer and rookie Gerrit Cole pitched six solid innings to lead the Pirates over the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-2. Tabatas drive was his fourth of the season and came off J.J. Putz in the eighth inning, putting the NL Central-leading Pirates ahead by four. Tabata connected a day after he came off the bench and had three hits in a 12-inning loss at St. Louis. Lambo had started the previous three games in right field after having his contract selected from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday. However, Tabata got a chance to get back into the lineup Friday night after getting three hits off the bench Thursday against the Cardinals. Tabata, who is hitting .269, sent an opposite-field shot to right after Gaby Sanchez doubled. "Its always a good sign for Jose to drive a ball the other way like that," Clint Hurdle said. "Thats the gift hes brought to the game since hes been a young player. Thats one of the first things I saw in 2010 when I was (the hitting coach) with the Texas Rangers and they played the Pirates. Thats one of the first thing people here talking to me about when I became the manager. "He squared some balls up in St. Louis and hit a ball hard tonight. That puts him in a good spot where hes aggressive in the batters box right now." Cole (6-5) was pitching on eight days of rest. He had his previous turn in the rotation skipped in part to allow veteran A.J. Burnett to pitch Thursday against the Cardinals and also to get extra rest. The 22-year-old Cole has pitched 140 innings between the major leagues and minor leagues in his second major league season. The right-hander gave up two runs and five hits with two walks and five strikeouts. The first overall pick in the 2011 amateur draft won for just the second time in his last seven decisions after wwinning the first four starts of his career.dddddddddddd "It was tough to get a feel for the breaking ball, Cole said when asked about the effect of extra rest. "I threw some good one but there were others where I wasnt totally committed to trusting it would break." Having more days off is something Ive got to attack, though. Its going to happen again. Its something Im going to have to get used to." Starling Marte and Andrew McCutchen had two hits each for Pittsburgh. Brandon McCarthy (2-7) lost his fourth straight decision, giving up four runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings with three walks and five strikeouts. "The whole thing felt like I was in a fight," McCarthy said. "I was able to command my sinker, but that was about it. My cutter was as bad as I can remember it in a long time." Martin Prado had two of Arizonas five hits. Pittsburgh broke a 2-all tie and moved in front for good with a two-run fifth. Marte doubled with one out and scored on Neil Walkers double. McCutchen then singled in Walker to make it 4-2. Pedro Alvarezs two-run single put the Pirates ahead 2-0 in the third. The hit scored Walker, who had walked, and McCutchen, who had doubled. Arizona answered with two runs in the fourth. Cole walked Paul Goldschmidt and Aaron Hill with one out, and they scored on singles by Prado and A.J. Pollock. After winning three straight games against Baltimore in their final at-bat, the Diamondbacks didnt have the same magic as Jeanmar Gomez and Mark Melancon combined for three scoreless innings of relief. "Cole threw the ball good, moved the ball in and out very good, had good velocity, the ball was moving," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson. NOTES: RHP Trevor Cahill (3-10, 4.66 ERA) is expected to be activated from the disabled list and start Saturdays game against Pittsburgh LHP Jeff Locke (9-3, 2.43). Cahill has been out since July 1 with a bruised right hip. ... Diamondbacks SS Didi Gregorius did not start after going 8 for 47 (.170) in his previous 14 games. Cliff Pennington took his place. ... Pittsburgh signed RHP Kyle Farnsworth to a minor league contract as a free agent and assigned him to Triple-A Indianapolis. The 15-year veteran was released Aug. 9 by Tampa Bay. ' ' '