The Capitals got a pair of goals from Alex Ovechkin and beat the Lightning 4-2 last night at the Verizon Center.
TampaBay opened the scoring early in the first period, seven seconds into a power play. Martin St. Louis found Vincent Lecavalier with a nifty cross-ice pass that Lecavalier tapped past Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth. The power play goal was the first in 11 attempts under new coach Jon Cooper. (Photo/Susan Ferlita)
Ovechkin tied the game 1-1 at 3:14 of the second period when he deflected a shot into the net. Ovechkin netted five goals in back-to-back games against the Lightning and Florida Panthers this weekend.
The Bolts came right back three minutes later when Alex Killorn scored a highlight reel goal on a partial breakaway through Neuvirth’s five-hole.
John Carlson and Joel Ward each scored to make it 3-2 Capitals and Ovechkin finished with an empty net goal. The Washington captain didn’t even have to shoot to earn the goal after Alex Killorn leaned over the boards and, with his stick, tried to knock the puck away from the Ovechkin as he skated past. NHL rules state that at that point, “the referee shall immediately award a goal.”
Ovechkin’s two goals put him at 25 on the year, tying him with Steve Stamkos for the NHL lead.
TampaBay was 13-0-1 when leading after one period this season. The Bolts led the Southeast at 6-1-0 but now sit fourth at 16-20-2 with very little chance to make the playoffs.
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