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Lightning trying to make up ground in Southeast Division

Feb 16, 2008 - 1:48 PM Washington (27-26-6) at Tampa Bay (25-27-6) 7:30 pm EST

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) - The Tampa Bay Lightning go for their fifth win in six games when they host Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on Saturday.

Despite having the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference, the Lightning, who have gone 8-3-1 in their last 12 contests, are starting to make a push in the Southeast Division.

Tampa Bay is coming off a 5-3 defeat at Philadelphia on Thursday and is now just six points behind first-place Carolina (29-27-4) and Atlanta (29-27-4). Martin St. Louis had a goal and two assists in Thursday's victory.

The Capitals, who own a 3-2-0 edge in the season series, have lost two straight contests, including a 4-2 setback at Florida on Friday.

Ovechkin, who leads the league with 48 goals, was held without a point for just the 11th time this season in the loss.

Should the 22-year-old tally two or more goals over the next two games, he would reach the 50-goal mark earlier than any NHL player since Buffalo Sabres forward Alex Mogilny in 1993.

The All-Star left wing has more than triple the amount of goals as the second-leading scorer on the Capitals (Mike Green, 15) and has tallied three goals and three assists in his five games against Tampa Bay this season.