Penalties Haunt Caps: Umberger Lifts Jackets Over Capitals In Overtime

November 1, 2009 9:20 p.m. EST

Washington DC (AHN) - Taking unnecessary penalties finally caught up with the Caps during their first game of November, as the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated Washington 5-4 in overtime Sunday.

Jackets' R.J. Umberger scored his second goal 1:45 into OT after Brian Pothier was penalized two minutes for interference.

Penalties have been a nagging problem for the Capitals (8-2-3).

"That was one of the things that haunted us in the first half of the month," Capitals center David Steckel said on the team's Web site. "[It was] our dumb penalties toward the end of the game specifically."

Columbus (6-5-1) took a 2-1 lead going into the final period after Rick Nash scored and Umberger's notched a power-play goal.

The third frame was a flurry of activity for both teams.

Capitals' Brooks Laich had two goals just 2:08 minutes apart to start the third. Raffi Torres followed with a score tying the game for Columbus at 3-3.

Quintin Laing, who returned to the lineup after being sideline with the swine flu, tallied a goal to make it 4-3 Caps.

But Torres sent the game into extra sessions at 19:37.

Nicklas Backstrom scored the Capitals first goal in the opening period.

Steve Mason stopped 32 shots for Columbus, and Jose Theodore turned away 27 shots for the Capitals.

Washington's point leader, Alex Ovechkin, played only 7:43.

He was pulled during the second period. A reason was not given at press time.