4 quick goals help Capitals beat Panthers 7-1

WASHINGTON (AP) -- What a way to start: four goals in eight shots.

John Erskine, Wojtek Wolski, John Carlson and Mike Ribeiro all scored before the game was 8 1/2 minutes old, and the Washington Capitals climbed out of a tie for last in the Eastern Conference by beating the Florida Panthers 7-1 Thursday night.

Florida's Jacob Markstrom allowed two goals on two shots and was pulled after 3 minutes, 10 seconds -- the fastest yanking of an NHL goalie for something other than an injury in more than a year, according to STATS LLC. Markstrom's replacement, Scott Clemmensen, didn't fare much better, giving up two goals in the first six shots.

Alex Ovechkin had two assists during that early run and added a power-play goal later.

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