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Capitals-Lightning Preview

Jan 11, 2010 - 9:52 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Washington (27-11-6) at Tampa Bay (17-17-10), 7:30 p.m. EDT

The Washington Capitals' control of the Southeast Division appears secure for a third straight season, and the Tampa Bay Lightning certainly don't need a reminder.

Washington will try to beat the Lightning for a 13th consecutive time on Tuesday night, with the cruising Capitals looking for a fourth straight win overall as they visit Tampa Bay.

The Caps' lead atop their division reached 16 points after their 8-1 road trouncing of Atlanta on Saturday night, when the NHL's most productive offense flashed its depth. Sixteen of Washington's 18 skaters notched at least one point, with superstar Alex Ovechkin managing no goals and one assist.

"In the first period, (the Thrashers) were working hard," Caps defenseman Brian Pothier said. "In the second, they seemed a little discouraged. The world caved in on them a little bit."

Washington (27-11-6) has also gotten major contributions lately from 21-year-old goaltender Michael Neuvirth, who has allowed two or fewer goals in six of his last seven starts, going 5-2-0 with a 2.15 goals-against average.

Neuvirth has seen the bulk of the action lately while Semyon Varlamov recovers from a lower-body injury.

"It takes time to see what this league is like, get acclimated to the league, understand how hard you have to work to be good at this league," Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau said. "But everybody saw the talent in (Neuvirth), and he's now playing the way we thought he could."

In his NHL debut, Neuvirth made 31 saves in a 5-1 victory at Tampa Bay on Feb. 14. The Lightning have not beaten Washington since a 5-2 win Nov. 16, 2007 - six days before Boudreau was hired.

The coach stayed perfect against Tampa Bay with the Caps' 3-0 victory at St. Pete Times Forum on Dec. 7. Ovechkin scored two goals in that game and has 10 goals and seven assists in his last eight meetings with the Lightning.

Washington can match Philadelphia's run of 13 straight wins against the New York Islanders for the league's longest active streak within one series, but Tampa Bay has a chance to snap a lengthy funk against one of the Eastern Conference's top teams for the second straight game.

East-leading New Jersey had won 10 straight against the Lightning before the Devils lost 4-2 in the completion of a suspended game Sunday. The game had begun Friday, and the Lightning had a 3-0 lead with 9:12 remaining in the second period before lighting problems in Newark stopped play.

The Lightning (17-17-10) held on, with Steven Stamkos scoring his second goal of the game. Stamkos also has five assists in his last four games and is two points shy of matching his 2008-09 rookie total of 46.

"It was a little weird," Stamkos said. "We prepared twice for this game. It was a half-game and a half-game. ... It was something a lot of guys haven't experienced in a while. It felt like we were back in junior, but it was worth it."

The team returns home, where it is 10-5-5, including a 3-1 win over reigning Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh on Jan. 2 just before its recent road trip.

Mike Smith has been especially sharp in Tampa, going 7-3-3 with a 2.05 GAA there. Smith, though, has lost all three of his career starts against the Capitals while posting a 5.25 GAA.