• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Lightning look to right ship vs. new-look Capitals

Mar 1, 2007 - 4:43 PM Tampa Bay (36-25-4) at Washington (24-29-11) 7:00 pm EST

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- In the heat of a playoff race, the Tampa Bay Lightning struggled at home. They will try to stay afloat on the road.

The Lightning look to get back on track Thursday when they open a six-game road trip against the Washington Capitals.

After going 1-1-1 on a three-game homestand, Tampa Bay will face division opponents - the Capitals and Florida - before finishing the swing with four Canadian clubs, finishing with Toronto on March 13.

On Tuesday, the Lightning dropped a 2-1 decision to Dallas. Tampa Bay tied the game with 19 seconds remaining in the middle session when Brad Richards netted his 23rd tally on a shorthanded breakaway but were not able to go in front.

Johan Holmqvist stopped 26 shots for Tampa Bay, which slipped to 17-4-2 in its last 23 contests.

Despite their poor homestand, the Lightning had been playing as of late and own a two-point lead over Atlanta in the Southeast Division.

Tampa Bay swung two deals before Tuesday's trade deadline to bolster its club. The Lightning acquired left wing Karl Stewart from Chicago for Nikita Alexeev and right wing Jason Ward from Los Angeles for a draft pick.

In last place, Washington also made several deals, sending away left wing Richard Zednik to the New York Islanders and defenseman Lawrence Nycholat to Ottawa on Monday.

One day later, they sent center Dainius Zubrus to Buffalo and defenseman Jamie Heward to Los Angeles. After the trades, Washington lost, 6-5, in a shootout on Tuesday.