Nicklas Backstrom recorded two goals and two assists while All-Star Alex Ovechkin netted a tally and set up three others as the Washington Capitals halted a three-game losing streak Friday with a 5-2 road victory over the Southeast Divison-rival Tampa Bay Lightning.
Jason Chimera had a goal and an assist, Brooks Laich also scored and Semyon Varlamov made 23 saves for the Capitals, who scored more than three goals for just the second time in 17 games.
Teddy Purcell got Tampa Bay on the board at 3:21 of the first period with his fourth goal in three games. Purcell added an assist later for his ninth point in four contests.
Backstrom drew Washington even less than six minutes later, poking a loose puck in the crease into the net for just his second tally in 27 matches.
The Capitals moved ahead 6 1/2 minutes into the second when Laich ended a 19-game goalless drought with a backhander. Ovechkin doubled the advantage 1:47 later, beating Dwayne Roloson with a wrister from the left faceoff circle during a power play for his 20th of the season.
Brett Clark reduced the deficit to one late in the second, tipping the puck past Varlamov during a man advantage with 41 seconds remaining. But Backstrom buried a loose puck in the slot with 7:38 left in the third to complete his fourth two-goal effort of the season and restore Washington's two-goal bulge.
Chimera sealed the win with an empty-netter in the final minute.
Simon Gagne notched two assists and Roloson turned aside 31 shots for the Lightning, who had their six-game winning streak snapped. Tampa Bay also fell to 3-1 on its record-tying 12-game homestand.
Washington | Tampa Bay | |
Nicklas Backstrom 4 | Points | Teddy Purcell 2 |
Nicklas Backstrom 2 | Goals | Teddy Purcell 1 |
Alexander Ovechkin 3 | Assists | Simon Gagne 2 |
Alexander Ovechkin 1 | Power Play Goals | Brett Clark 1 |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Semyon Varlamov .920 | Save Percentage | Dwayne Roloson .886 |
Semyon Varlamov 23 | Saves | Dwayne Roloson 31 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Washington | 36 | 5 | 1-4 | 3-4 | 20 | 41 |
Tampa Bay | 25 | 2 | 1-4 | 3-4 | 20 | 27 |