Keith Jones

LANDOVER -- The game was just 35 seconds old last night when Kelly Miller took a carom off the boards at mid-ice, cruised in on Trevor Kidd and deposited the puck into the net behind the Calgary goaltender.This is known as a benefit from an unexpected source, pennies from heaven, a bonus, as it was just the fourth goal scored by the defensive forward and penalty-killing ace in 47 games.Besides giving the Capitals a head start, something they've had trouble achieving in games over the first two-thirds of the season, it gave strong indication that the home team was on its game.

Opponent: Boston BruinsSite: FleetCenter, BostonTime: 7:30TV/Radio: Ch. 50/WWLG (1360 AM), WTEM (570 AM)Outlook: The Capitals (4-3) will attempt to break out of a mini-slump during which they have lost back-to-back games. They have had five days off and used them to try to improve their conditioning and reacquaint themselves with RW Peter Bondra and C Michal Pivonka, who returned to the team after reaching contract agreements. Pivonka, who must complete a three-game suspension for a playoff penalty last season, will not be available until the team plays in St. Louis Sunday.

The Washington Capitals are easy targets. Just look at them.Almost every other team in the Eastern Conference has made noticeable improvements, but the Capitals go into this season with beautiful, new uniforms covering the same old problems -- and some new ones.Their top scoring line of a year ago is gone: Dimitri Khristich has been traded; Peter Bondra, the NHL's leading goal scorer, and Michal Pivonka, the team's third-leading scorer, are holding out.They have Ken Klee and Jim Johnson, two defensemen, playing forward.

LANDOVER -- This time it was total domination, and the team doing the dominating was the Washington Capitals.Last night, with the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal series tied at one game each, the Capitals simply pounded the Pittsburgh Penguins with a heart-pumping, 6-2 victory at USAir Arena.It was the kind of game Washington had promised itself. A full, 60 minutes.And it was the kind of game the Capitals' faithful have come to expect from rookie goaltender Jim Carey, who demonstrated why he is a top candidate for Rookie of the Year in the NHL.Carey made 21 saves before finally letting the puck in the net, and by that time, Calle Johansson, Keith Jones (twice)

BOSTON -- At this rate, Washington Capitals goalie Jim Carey will be seeking his own $7 million deal before long.In his best performance, Carey stopped 36 shots to lift Washington to a 3-1 victory over Boston last night at Carey's home rink, the venerable Boston Garden.It was the Capitals' fourth straight victory and the fourth since Carey joined the club last week.Kelly Miller, Keith Jones and Calle Johansson scored for the Capitals and Ray Bourque for the Bruins. But Carey was the star of the show.

PHILADELPHIA -- The Washington Capitals came searching for their first road victory of the season against the Philadelphia Flyers last night, but they didn't find it.For a few moments, it appeared that they might find their fourth straight tie, but the goal, that was forged by Keith Jones and Dale Hunter pushing the puck under Hextall, was called off. The officials said the "puck was frozen."Kind of like the Capitals, who seem to be sinking further into the deep freeze game-by-game.Last night, it was a goal by Shjon Podein with 4:43 gone in the third period that sent Washington to a 4-2 loss.

In the top 20 high school basketball package in yesterday's editions, Dunbar's Keith James was incorrectly identified as Keith Jones in a photograph, and No. 18 on the list should have been the 1987-1988 Dunbar team that featured seniors Sam Cassell, Kevin Green and Lewis Lambert.The Sun regrets the errors.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Don Beaupre recorded 23 saves yesterday to lead the Washington Capitals over the Tampa Bay Lightning, 3-0, on slushy ice at Orlando Arena."