Capitals Vs. Lightning Recap: Steven Stamkos And Dwayne Roloson Send Washington Home 4-2 Losers

In their home finale of the 2011-12 season, the Tampa Bay Lighting bounced back in the final three minutes to beat the Washington Capitals 4-2. Veteran goaltender Dwayne Roloson had one of his best games in an otherwise rough season, standing on his head in the second period and shutting the door in the third for 31 total saves.

Jason Chimera tied it for the Caps with 3:17 left in the game, scoring his 20th of the season. It started with a nice play by Mike Green, who brought the puck into the zone and hit Alexander Semin on the right wing. Semin fired a rocket at Roloson and the shot rebounded off to his right as Chimera rushed to the far post and easily slammed it home in front to tie it at 2-2.

Steven Stamkos, however, would quickly put the Bolts back in front beating Michal Neuvirth off a rebound in front for his 57th goal of the season. Stamkos, the former No. 1 overall pick with 12 game-winning goals this season, would add another with a nice empty-netter lofted from the bad angle on one knee along the boards. That would seal the 4-2 loss, ending the season series at 3-3 and sweeping the Caps at the Forum.

With two games left, the Capitals now return home for a huge game against Southeast Division leading Florida on Thursday night. Buffalo was idle on Monday but still has three games left to play, just two points behind the Caps in the race for the eighth spot.

For more on the Capitals, visit Japers Rink. For more on the Lightning, visit Raw Charge. For the latest from around the NHL, check out SB Nation's hockey hub.

Capitals Vs. Lightning Score Update: Dwayne Roloson Impressive In Second Period As Caps Trail 2-1

In the last of six meetings this season, the Tampa Bay Lightning lead the Washington Capitals 2-1 after two periods. Veteran goaltender Dwayne Roloson put in some impressive glove work in the second period to keep the Caps from putting multiple goals on the board. Alex Semin broke the scoreless tie with his 20th goal of the year just seconds after he hit the post. Semin rocketed a one-timer from center ice but that was the only goal the Tampa netminder would allow.

Roloson absolutely robbed Mike Green with under five minutes remaining. Green took a cross-ice feed and had a wide open net as he came streaking in towards the post but Roloson quickly rotated over in the crease and robbed a Green goal with a glove save. The Caps asked for and received a review after it looked like Roloson's glove may have been across the goal line but the save held up. Green is still scoreless since returning from his hernia surgery in mid February, and the defenseman showed his frustration and slammed his stick into the boards after the play.

The Bolts evened it up at 1-1 on a Teddy Purcell power play goal with two and half minutes remaining. Purcell took a feed from across the ice and snuck a low wrister under the right pad of Michal Neuvirth. Just 25 seconds later, Victor Hedman put the Lightning ahead 2-1 on a blast from the point with traffic in front. Hedman was credited with the goal but Tom Pyatt's work in front screened out Neuvirth and changed the direction of the shot.

Roloson would make two more great saves after Tampa took, the lead, flashing the leather on a great opportunity for Troy Brouwer. The Caps, who found themselves in this third period hole against Tampa at home last month, will look to solve Roloson over the final 20 minutes and spoil the Bolts home finale.

For more on the Capitals, visit Japers Rink. For more on the Lightning, visit Raw Charge. For the latest from around the NHL, check out SB Nation's hockey hub.

Capitals Vs. Lightning: No Score After One Despite Multiple Power Plays

The Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning are scoreless after one period of play at the Tampa Bay Times Forum as Washington tries to take a giant step forward in securing a playoff place.

The Capitals have outshot the Lightning 7-5 through 20 minutes of play, despite the Lightning having two power play opportunities early in the game.

Washington enters tonight's game two points ahead of the Buffalo Sabres in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and three points behind the Florida Panthers for the Southeast Division lead. With a win over the Lightning, Washington can clinch a playoff spot if Buffalo loses in regulation to the Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday night at First Niagara Center.

For more on the Capitals, visit Japers Rink. For more on the Lightning, visit Raw Charge. For the latest from around the NHL, check out SB Nation's hockey hub.

Capitals Vs. Lightning: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The Washington Capitals are hanging onto the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference as the NHL regular season enters its final week. A road win over Tampa Bay would help the Capitals keep their playoff ticket.

The Lightning's postseason hopes were extinguished a while back, but they may relish the opportunity to sully the hopes of their division rivals. Troy Brouwer noted as much in a Monday Washington Times article.

They're not going to just play an easy game because they're out of the playoffs. Teams like to play the spoiler role and it's going to be a tough game for us.

Washington has just two games left after this one, a Thursday home game with the Florida Panthers and a season finale in New York against the Rangers.

Monday night's game will be broadcast nationally on NBC Sports Network as well as Comcast SportsNet. The puck drops at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

For more on the Capitals, visit Japers Rink. For more on the Lightning, visit Raw Charge. For the latest from around the NHL, check out SB Nation's hockey hub.

Capitals Vs. Lightning: Washington Begins Season's Final Week In Tampa

The final week of the season is here. Can the Capitals control their destiny to make it back to the playoffs?