He continues his stellar play with two goals in a 4-2 victory over the Capitals. Gerber is 3-0-1 in his last four starts after making 23 saves.
 
By Chris Foster, Times Staff Writer

WASHINGTON — This is the type of game that Sergei Fedorov can bring, the kind that puts him in a thin-air tax bracket.

This is the type of game the Mighty Ducks seem capable of having, one where they control play and ride exceptional goaltending — even if it isn't from Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

This, also, is the type of game with which the Washington Capitals have become too familiar. The Ducks were happy to add to the Capitals' woes with a 4-2 victory in front of an announced 13,350 at the MCI Center Wednesday.

Fedorov scored the Ducks' first two goals, Jason Krog and Steve Rucchin secured the victory with third-period goals and Martin Gerber continued his string of solid games in net. The Capitals lost their sixth consecutive game and had their winless streak extended to eight.

The Ducks could revel in road victories on consecutive nights, which gave them a 4-1-1 record in their last six games. At the center of this was Fedorov, who signed a five-year, $40-million contract this summer.

"The thing I like about Sergei is how excited he is when the team is winning," Duck Coach Mike Babcock said. "It took him a while. Now he's off to the races. We just got to figure out how to use him in all situations. We're learning that."

Among the things the Ducks have already learned about Fedorov?

"It is a lot better having him play for you than against you," Duck defenseman Ruslan Salei said. "It's less of a headache for us, more of a headache for the other team."

Fedorov, who had two assists in Tuesday's victory over the New York Rangers, struck immediately Wednesday.

With the Ducks on the power play, he slipped in from the blue line and glided into the slot. He took a Sandis Ozolinsh pass and fired a shot past goalie Olaf Kolzig 1:27 into the game. It was the Ducks' sixth power-play goal in five games.

Fedorov dominated the play through the first period, which ended tied, 1-1, after the Capitals' Stephen Peat scored seven minutes into the game.

Fedorov broke that tie by flipping a soft shot through traffic that went through Kolzig's legs 15:37 into the second period.

The Ducks were hardly displeased with Fedorov's play through the first two weeks of the season — he does lead the team with 10 points — but he has been as reliable as a computer in recent games.

"I'm thinking much less and just reacting now," Fedorov said. "Basically, the tactics of the team and the coaching plan, I don't have to think much. I just got to execute and just react.

"I know if I play a little extra, I can play a little better. That has been noticed by the coaching staff and they give me all kind of opportunities this year to show up and be the player I wanted to be."

Fedorov pulled double shifts throughout the second period because, "[he] was playing so well, I wanted to double him up," Babcock said.