Bellows 1000th Point In Caps Win

Brian Bellows got his 1,000th career point in front of family and friends.

Bellows, a native of nearby St. Catharines, Ont., had a goal and assist as the Washington Capitals beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 Saturday night.

Bellows got his milestone point when he set up Jeff Toms' third-period goal, making it 4-1. Bellows, a 17-year NHL veteran, has 474 goals and 526 assists in 1,147 games.

"It's a night I'll remember," he said. "It was gratifying that it came on a good play and not a second assist. And it's nice to do it with some friends and family in the stands."

Michal Pivonka, jan bulis and Calle Johansson also scored for the Capitals, who have won seven straight against the Maple Leafs dating back to Nov. 10, 1995.

Steve Thomas and Fredrik Modin scored for Toronto, which outshot Washington 31-27.

A year ago this time, Bellows was unwanted by NHL teams and playing pro hockey in Germany. The Capitals signed him as a free agent last February at the suggestion of coach Ron Wilson, who previously coached Bellows in Anaheim.

"I had decided that if nobody signed me by March, I would pack 'em up (and retire)," Bellows said. " It's great just to be playing. I've learned not to take a day in the NHL for granted."

Bellows scored his sixth goal of the season at 11:39 of the second period for a 2-1 lead. He shot into an open net from the slot after Toronto goalie Curtis Joseph chased a centering pass from Toms.

Bulis scored with two seconds remaining in the second period for a 3-1 lead. He swatted Dmitri Mironov's rebound past Joseph for a power-play goal.

The Maple Lefs opened the scoring on the first shift of the game as Thomas re-directed Alexander Karpovtsev's point shot past Olaf Kolzig at the 44-second mark.

"We didn't seem to work after that first goal," said Toronto coach Pat Quinn. "It's like we almost stopped playing. You're not going to win many games if you don't work."

Washington tied it at 1 early in the second period on the power play. Pivonka, playing just his sixth game of the season after recovering from shoulder surgery, fired a centering pass from the corner and watched as Toronto defenseman Jason Smith directed it past Joseph into his own net.

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