Capitals 3 - 4 Lightning
Final - OT
  for this game

Stamkos lifts Lightning over Capitals in OT

Feb 1, 2012 - 5:36 AM Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - Steven Stamkos scored the winner at the 2:45 mark of overtime to lift the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals in a Southeast Division battle.

In the extra session, Stamkos brought the puck into the Washington end through the middle and dished it over to the right for Martin St. Louis, who cut to the front and stuffed the puck on net.

Tomas Vokoun made the stop, but the rebound sat there and Stamkos was able to stuff it home for his NHL-leading 33rd goal of the season.

"Marty was there with a lot of speed and beat his guy to the net," said Stamkos. "He got it on net and I got a generous rebound and put it in."

Stamkos and St. Louis both had a goal and an assist while Mathieu Garon made 26 stops for the Lightning, who have won five straight.

Troy Brouwer, Matt Hendricks and Mathieu Perreault all scored for the Capitals, who have dropped three of four. Vokoun finished the game with 27 saves.

"We created chances very well tonight," said Hendricks. "We were able to come back from a couple of goals and those are the positives we can take out of this game."

Hendricks scored with 3:05 to play in the first, but Teddy Purcell notched his 13th of the year with 1:10 to play in the frame to send it to the break tied.

St. Louis gave the Lightning the lead just 65 seconds into the second on a backhander for his 13th of the season and Nate Thompson scored with 9:01 to play in the second to give Tampa a 3-1 lead.

Perreault, though, scored when his backhand centering attempt from behind the net hit off the stick of Thompson and snuck into the net with 6:53 to play.

The Caps then tied the game less than six minutes into the third as Brouwer picked up a loose puck off a good forecheck and slapped it home from the inside right circle.

Game Notes

Tampa hosts Winnipeg on Thursday...Washington plays in Florida on Wednesday...The Capitals have lost three straight on the road...Washington had won the previous four games against Tampa, including both contests this season.






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