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Bolts continue monumental homestand against Blues

Feb 6, 2011 - 3:54 PM (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Lightning will try to shake off a disappointing loss when they continue their mammoth homestand with this afternoon's test against the St. Louis Blues.

The Lightning had a six-game winning streak snapped Friday night by the rival Washington Capitals, as Alex Ovechkin notched a goal and three assists to lead the second-place Caps to a 5-2 victory over the Southeast-leading Bolts.

It was the first loss for Tampa Bay since a 6-4 setback at Carolina on Jan. 15 and the setback also dropped the Lightning to 3-1-0 on their 12-game homestand at St. Pete Times Forum.

Teddy Purcell and Brett Clark scored for the Lightning, who have 69 points and are three ahead of Washington for the division lead.

"Our grinding guys, the guys who are supposed to shut down, didn't shut it down," said Tampa head coach Guy Boucher. "Our defensemen didn't transition the puck well either. It was one of those games where nobody played well."

Dwayne Roloson, who registered shutouts in each of his last two starts against the Caps, surrendered four goals on 35 shots in Friday's game.

Tampa still has an impressive 17-5-2 record on home ice this season and the loss to the Caps was the Lightning's first defeat at the Forum since Jan. 14 against New Jersey.

Lightning winger Ryan Malone missed his fourth straight game Friday with a lower-body injury, but he could make his return to the ice today. Malone is fourth on Tampa with 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) this season.

St. Louis, meanwhile, ended a four-game slide in its last outing, as the Blues notched a 5-3 win over visiting Edmonton on Friday. Brad Boyes posted the winning score in the second period of the Blues' victory at Scottrade Center.

Brad Winchester added an insurance tally in the third for the Blues. Alex Pietrangelo, Matt D'Agostini and T.J. Oshie also lit the lamp to back a 29- save performance from Ty Conklin.

"We've got balance and the depth, it's no longer a situation where we have to rely on just one line," said St. Louis head coach Davis Payne. "That's been a what we've been hoping for here to turn things around."

With 53 points, the Blues currently find themselves seeded 14th in the West, but they are still only seven points out of a playoff spot.

St. Louis will complete a two-game tour of Florida with Tuesday's game against the Panthers. The Blues are just 7-12-4 as the guest this year and they have dropped three straight and five out of six on the road.

Tampa notched a 6-3 win at St. Louis in the only meeting between these clubs last season. The Lightning have taken three of their last four encounters with the Blues.