Washington 2, Florida 1

CAPITALS 2, PANTHERS 1: Alexander Semin assisted on the tying goal and scored the winner in the third period as visiting Washington came from behind to defeat Florida and end a three-game losing streak.

Semin set up Alex Ovechkin’s power-play goal 4:47 into the third period, a bad-angle shot from the left side of the net that tied the game 1-1. Semin’s slap shot from the right point deflected off Florida forward Sean Bergenheim’s stick and over Panthers goaltender Jose Theodore at 13:27.

Washington moved within two points of first-place Florida in the Southeast Division.

Tomas Fleischmann scored at 19:20 of the first period off a pass from Stephen Weiss for Florida, which lost in regulation for the first time with a lead going into the third period.

Tomas Vokoun made 22 saves, 11 in the first period, to beat his former team for the third time in three games this season.

Theodore (39 saves) stopped all 30 shots he faced in the first two periods, but the Panthers took four minor penalties in the third period.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Mike Knuble was back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch the last three games and assisted on Ovechkin’s goal. … Fleischmann has 10 points in 10 games. … It was the fourth time the Capitals have won when trailing going into the third period.

• Florida will play their next game at home against Anaheim . The Panthers have a W/L % of .407 after a win and .533 after a loss.
• Washington will play their next game on the road against Tampa Bay . The Capitals have a W/L % of .517 after a win and .500 after a loss.