WASHINGTON -- First game back from a long road trip. Early season, midweek matchup against an opponent that doesnt exactly fire up the masses. The conditions combined to create a low-energy performance from the Washington Capitals, and thats exactly what it was at times Tuesday night. Nevertheless, they rallied when it mattered. Mikhail Grabovskis 100th NHL goal tied the game with 1:45 remaining in regulation, and Alex Ovechkin put in a rebound 1:34 into overtime for a 4-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. "I think maybe we were a little tired. Maybe the trip caught up to us a bit," Washington coach Adam Oates said. "We played better early than I thought we were going to, and then I think it just showed itself. ... A little frustrating at times because we had easier plays than we were making, which is maybe mental fatigue. But obviously to figure out a way to get it done is still a good thing as well." Ovechkins 14th goal of the season and franchise-best 13th career overtime goal capped a game that included a pair of short-handed scores and third-period comebacks by both teams. Joel Ward gave the Capitals a 2-1 lead, then Jared Boll and Cam Atkinson scored less than three minutes apart to put the Blue Jackets in front, then Grabovski pounced on a loose puck to send the game to overtime. "Tonight was one of those games that we know we should have won this game," Washington defenceman Karl Alzner said. "The fact that we went down like that, I think really upset us and lit enough of a fire for us to get back and build the confidence." John Carlson also scored for the Capitals, who returned home after losing at pair at Phoenix and Colorado. They have won five of seven overall and five straight at the Verizon Center. Braden Holtby made 24 saves. Brandon Dubinsky had a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets, who have dropped six of seven. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 30 shots. "We had opportunities on the power play, and our power play was slow," Columbus coach Todd Richards said. "I dont think it was dangerous at all. ... We had a lead with three minutes to go in the game and a chance to get two points against a divisional team. Right now its really a disappointing, deflating feeling just because of how it ended." The normally energetic Capitals fans had trouble generating their usual frenzy for their new rival from the Metropolitan Division. A subdued first period -- no goals, no penalties, few decent scoring chances -- gave way to some more interesting action in the second, when the Blue Jackets caught the Capitals sleepwalking through a power play. Dubinsky outhustled Troy Brouwer to the puck behind Washingtons net and was unchallenged as he skated in front and backhanded an easy shot past Holtby for a short-handed goal. The main credit for Carlsons goal goes to Martin Erat, who persevered to reach around a defender and slide the puck to the defenceman. Carlson crashed into net while celebrating his fourth goal of the season. The game came alive in the third when Ward got his ninth goal, surpassing his total from last season, while the Capitals were short-handed. Bobrovsky went behind the net to play the puck, but had it hop past his stick and straight to Ward, who scored into an empty net from the right circle. Boll was upended into a near-cartwheel after his redirect of James Wisniewskis shot with 8:38 to play for his first goal of the season, then Atkinson gave the Blue Jackets the lead on a breakaway with 5:41 remaining. NOTES: Dubinsky has two goals and five assists in four games. ... Columbus F Nick Foligno remains away from the team for personal reasons. ... Erat has scored more points (57) against Columbus than any other team. Ray Ban Outlet . They still are, to a certain degree, but not nearly what they once were. Cheap Ray Ban . Brandon Pirri added a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks, who have won four of five. Michael Kostka scored his first career goal against his former team, and Corey Crawford had 19 saves. http://www.rb-sunglassesoutlet.com/[/ur... . Judges Clark Sammartino of the United States and Paul Thomas of Britain scored it 114-111 and 115-110 for Abraham, respectively, while American Michael Pernick judged it 113-112 in favour of the defending champion. [url=http://www.rb-sunglassesoutlet.com/]Cheap Ray Ban Sunglasses . The Raptors hope to make it two wins in a row tonight as they visit an Orlando Magic squad that could have forward Hedo Turkoglu back on the floor for the first time since its season opener.GREEN BAY, Wis. - Ted Thompson is happy to have Julius Peppers in the fold. But the Packers general manager insisted Thursday that landing the eight-time Pro Bowl defensive end from the rival Chicago Bears wont have an effect on what Green Bay does with its nine selections in next weeks NFL draft. In his first public comments since Peppers surprising signing on March 15, Thompson said he believes the 34-year-old lineman has plenty left in the tank and that he expects him to have an impact on the Packers up-and-down defence. "Theres no evidence of any decline in his play, in our opinion," Thompson said Thursday. "He still has the same athletic traits that he had coming out (of college). Hes had a remarkable history in the NFL in terms of durability. Were looking forward to it. I think he is, too." The 6-foot-7, 287-pound Peppers certainly has been durable, playing in 186 of a possible 192 games. Hes also been productive, registering the second-most sacks (118.5) in the NFL and forcing the fifth-most fumbles (39) since he entered the league. He leads all NFL defensive linemen with nine interceptions over that span. But playing 855 snaps for the Bears last season, Peppers managed only 7.5 sacks, the third-lowest total of his 12-year NFL career. The Packers envision him as a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker in their 3-4 defence, and their hope is that by playing him fewer snaps, they will not only increase his production but give opposing offences another pass-rushing threat to worry about opposite four-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker Clay Matthews. Matthews, who missed six games last season with a twice-broken thumb, is expected to be fully healthy for training camp. "When I view him as a football player, hes an individual youd like to create targeting problems," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said of Peppers in March. "He has the ability to pplay from the two-point stance, has the ability to play on the move.dddddddddddd" In 10 career games against the Packers with Carolina and Chicago, Peppers has recorded 9.5 sacks, his fourth-highest total against a specific opponent. The Packers finished tied for eighth in the 32-team NFL last season in sacks with 44 despite Matthews absence. Their hope is that Peppers, who reported for the first day of the off-season program last week, will have an impact on more than just that one category. Last season, the Packers finished tied for 24th in scoring defence (26.8 points per game), 25th in yards allowed (372.3), 25th in rushing yards allowed (125.0), 24th in passing yards allowed (247.3) and tied for 20th in takeaways (22). "Its fun to see Julius. Hes a specimen. He looks great," Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said last week. "Itll be fun to get him really into the fold and get him feeling like hes part of the team, encouraging him to be a leader for us. I think he brings a lot to the table -- on the field and in the locker room. Im just excited about not having to run away from him anymore." As hopeful as the Packers are of Peppers contributions, Thompson insisted that he wont approach the No. 21 overall pick - or any of his other picks - differently with Peppers on board. "We talked about this before. I might sound like a broken record, but we feel that the draft is a long-term investment," said Thompson, whose teams most immediate needs appear to be at safety, linebacker, tight end, offensive line and cornerback. "We dont get too carried away with what our perceived needs are at the moment. We think thats good business. If you can marry those things up thats fine but if you stretch to try to fill quote unquote need somewhere then you end up messing up a couple of spots, so we try to stick to the best player available." ' ' '