Lightning Vs. Capitals: Washington Holds Off Tampa Bay For 4-3 Win

After racing out to a 3-0 lead, the Washington Capitals held on for a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night. Troy Brouwer added an empty net goal with a little over a minute remaining to notch his first professional hat trick. The goal sealed the victory and improved the Caps' record to 23-17-2.

It seemed Brouwer's goal may have removed the doubt, but the Bolts had made it plenty interesting in the third, peppering Caps netminder Tomas Vokoun and controlling the action. Steven Stamkos notched his 30th goal of the season, beating Vokoun on the power play. It was originally ruled no goal but review clearly showed Stamkos's shot from in front deflect off the post, hit the goal camera and pop back out onto the ice. The review put the goal on the board and spun the clock back.

Even after the empty netter by Brouwer, Tampa still threatened to even it up. Vincent Lecavalier cut the lead in half with 11 seconds left. Then, off a faceoff win, the Bolts managed to get a shot on Vokoun that hit the side of the net before time expired.

It was Washington's sixth straight win at home, highlighted by Brouwer's hat trick and Alex Oveckin's opening goal on Dwayne Roloson. Washington now hosts the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday afternoon, looking to make it seven in a row at Verizon Center.

For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Capitals, visit SB Nation's Caps blog, Japers' Rink.

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Lightnign Vs. Capitals: Caps Maintain Two-Goal Lead With 3-1 Edge

The Washington Capitals continued to pressure the Tampa Bay Lightning, but it was the latter that struck last as the former holds a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes.

Troy Brouwer earned his second goal of the game at 5:25. The second line of Brouwer, Mike Knuble and Brooks Laich pinned the Lightning in their own zone. Knuble's turnaround wrist shot left a big rebound for Brouwer to place in the open net for his 13th goal of the season. Brouwer is five goals from surpassing his goal total from all of last season.

Tom Pyatt, however, ended Tomas Vokoun's shutout streak at just over 100 minutes. Martin St. Louis took the puck from Mike Knuble behind the net and threw a pass towards Pyatt in front. Pyatt was able to sneak the puck past Vokoun for his fourth goal of the season at 17:06.

The Lightning hold a 16-13 shot advantage.

Lightning Vs. Capitals: Caps Strike Twice On Power Play, Hold 2-0 Lead Over Lightning

The Washington Capitals have caught lightning in a bottle and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Two power play goals have given the Caps a 2-0 lead over the Lightning after 20 minutes.

Alex Ovechkin's 18th goal of the season and eighth in his last 11 games at 3:52 gave the Caps an early 1-0 lead. While on the power play, Ovechkin barely kept Marcus Johansson's pass at the point inside the offensive zone, but corralled the puck and had enough space to set himself for a wrist shot that beat Dwayne Roloson as he was heavily screened by Troy Brouwer.

Less than two minutes later, Brouwer victimized Roloson again by scoring his 12th goal of the season. With the Caps on the power play for the third time, Alexander Semin fed Brouwer the puck in tight along the goal line. With no one around, Brouwer fired a tight-angle wrist shot that slipped through Roloson's legs at 5:45. The 2/3 performance on the power play is Washington's second multi-PPG game in its last five overall.

Shots are tied at eight apiece.

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Lightning Vs. Capitals: Tomas Vokoun To Earn Eighth Consecutive Start, Cody Eakin To Replace Mathieu Perreault

BALLSTON, Va. - The Washington Capitals prepared for their game with the Tampa Bay Lightning Friday during their typical morning skate at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. Not much changed in the lineup with regards to personnel, but there were some major changes to the line combinations:

Alex Ovechkin - Marcus Johansson - Alexander Semin

Mike Knuble - Brooks Laich - Troy Brouwer

Matt Hendricks - Jeff Halpern - Joel Ward

Jason Chimera - Cody Eakin - Jay Beagle

The defense, however, should remain the same:

Karl Alzner - John Carlson

Dmitry Orlov - Dennis Wideman

Roman Hamrlik - Tomas Kundratek

Tomas Vokoun left the ice first and should earn his eighth consecutive start. Vokoun made 30 saves in a 1-0 shutout of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

John Erskine, Jeff Schultz, Mathieu Perreault and Michal Neuvirth took part in extra work and will be the likely scratches Friday.

For more on the Capitals, please visit SB Nation's Caps blog, Japers' Rink.

Lightning Vs. Capitals: Caps Continue Homestand Against Lightning

The Caps look to win the second game of their four-game homestand against the Lightning Friday.