Steven Stamkos and Ryan Malone scored 24 seconds apart in the third period as the Tampa Bay Lightning skated to a 4-3 home triumph over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday to seize a commanding 3-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Sean Bergenheim and captain Vincent Lecavalier netted their respective fifth goals of the postseason and Dwayne Roloson stopped 29 shots for fifth-seeded Tampa Bay, which will look to close out its Southeast Division rival at home in Game 4 on Wednesday.

With Tampa Bay defenseman Brett Clark and Adam Hall in the penalty box, captain Alex Ovechkin made the Lightning pay. The Russian superstar collected a loose puck on the doorstep and wristed a shot just under the crossbar to give Washington a 3-2 lead with 2:33 remaining in the second period.

The Lightning rebounded with a flourish as Stamkos leveled the contest 5:23 into the third period with a blistering wrist shot from the high slot.

Malone sent the St. Pete Times Forum into a frenzy shortly thereafter. Nate Thompson rushed up the wing and wristed a centering feed which caromed off the skate of both Washington defenseman John Carlson and Malone before entering the net.

Mike Knuble netted his 12th career postseason goal, Carlson also tallied and Michal Neuvirth stopped 26 shots for top-seeded Washington.

After Bergenheim opened the scoring midway through the first period after converting a 2-on-1 with Dominic Moore, Knuble leveled the contest just 59 seconds into the second period after cleaning up a loose puck after Ovechkin was denied on a breakaway.

Carlson gave Washington a 2-1 lead nearly seven minutes later with a blast from the point, but Lecavalier squared it up again after his shot trickled between the pads of Neuvirth with 8:09 remaining in the second period.