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Pothier nets game-winner as Capitals down Lightning

Dec 16, 2007 - 5:06 AM TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Alex Ovechkin did not record a point for the first time in eight games, but the Washington Capitals still managed just enough offense to down the Tampa Bay Lightning, 3-2, on Saturday.

Blue-liner Brian Pothier's third-period tally proved to be the difference for the Capitals, who won for the fifth time in their last seven games and improved to 7-4-1 under interim coach Bruce Boudreau.

Perhaps most impressive for Washington, which has allowed 98 goals this season, was its ability to hold Tampa Bay's powerful offense to just two tallies - and none in the third period.

Brent Johnson made 23 saves to win for the third time in eight decisions.

"Our defense and our forwards played unbelievable, man," Johnson said. "Coming back, supporting each other, and on the penalty kill as well. Just amazing.

"I haven't played in a while, but I noticed that guys are sharing the puck so much out there. Guys are talking, communicating. It helps."

Pothier's shot during a power play at 5:06 of the third period beat goaltender Johan Holmqvist high to the glove side, snapping a 2-2 tie.

Holmqvist, who was pulled after allowing four goals on six shots in Thursday's 9-6 loss to the Calgary Flames, has seen his team lose each of the last four times he has been in net.

"He gave us a chance and we didn't generate enough offense," Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella said. "We take a bad penalty and we can't kill it."

Tampa Bay has dropped consecutive home contests for only the second time this season.

"We can't continue to take penalties," Tortorella said. "I don't go by the minutes, I go by time short. Our power play stinks, they score a goal. You can't take a penalty."

The Lightning opened the scoring 4:28 into the first period, when defenseman Paul Ranger blasted a slap shot from above the left faceoff circle that hit netminder Brent Johnson in the shoulder and bounced into the net.

The Capitals tied it up with 5:34 remaining in the opening period. Tomas Fleischmann emerged from a crowd in front of the net and buried the puck past Holmqvist.

Washington moved ahead, 2-1, just eight seconds into the second period. David Steckel took a pass from Pothier on the right side and deked past a defender before firing a wrister by Holmqvist.

"It was a team win because everybody, I thought, contributed," Boudreau said. "On a night where Ovechkin said to me coming off the ice, 'It wasn't my night,' you know on a night like that, when everybody else can step up, I think that's an indicator you're becoming a good team."

The NHL's top scorer this season, Vincent Lecavalier knotted the contest at 5:50 of the session. Vaclav Prospal streaked up the right wing and dropped the puck to Lecavalier, who slapped a shot from the left circle between Johnson's pads.

Lecavalier, who assisted on Ranger's tally, has 51 points just 33 games in the season.

"We just didn't get it done," Lightning center Brad Richards said. "I think tonight's game, we didn't do enough to win. It was a little disappointing that way, but we'll definitely get back to work."