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Johnson gets plenty of help in win over Lightning

Nov 11, 2008 - 4:58 AM By Tim Hipps PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Defensemen Tom Poti and Mike Green scored first-period goals and Brent Johnson made 34 saves as the Washington Capitals toppled the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-2, on Monday.

Starting his fourth consecutive game in place of Jose Theodore, Johnson turned aside 28 shots in the final 40 minutes for Washington, which has yielded just seven goals in its last four contests.

"I feel really good right now, but the most important thing is two points," said Johnson, who had not started four consecutive games since February 25 through March 3, 2007. "We've got a big game against Carolina on Wednesday and we've got to get two points again. I can't wait for the game. Whether I play or not, there's going to be a good vibe in the building."

Eric Fehr also tallied in the first for the Capitals, who extended their winning streak to three. Alex Ovechkin added his third goal of the season late in the third to snap a nine-game goalless streak. The 23-year-old Russian has 15 goals in 25 career games against the Lightning.

"It's hard to have balance when you have a couple of 50-goal scorers on your team," Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau said. "But if you can get balance in scoring, it makes it more difficult for the other team to cover you. And when you get scoring from your defense, which we've been doing quite a lot, it makes for tough pre-scouting on the other team."

Gary Roberts scored two power-play goals, but the Lightning did not get any help from goaltender Olaf Kolzig, who fizzled against his former team. Before signing with Tampa Bay in July, Kolzig spent the previous 16 seasons with Washington, going 301-293-23 with 63 ties.

"I didn't know what to expect going out on the ice," Kolzig said. "I'm not going to lie and say I wasn't nervous, but that really didn't have anything to do with spotting them three goals. I would have liked to have stopped one of those first two goals. My head was scrambled a little after the first two goals. I just told myself to keep battling. I'm glad it's over.:

Kolzig's counterpart has made the most of his time in goal.

"For the past few seasons here, it's been tough to get into a rhythm," Johnson said. "If you play once every five games, it's definitely difficult, but Bruce (Boudreau) has given me a little bit of a chance - and getting wins is the most important thing. I don't care if we win, 6-5. It's just winning the game."

Poti opened the scoring after his wrister from the left faceoff circle beat Kolzig 8:20 into the first. It was Poti's second goal in as many games, and Green followed 95 seconds later off passes from Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom.

"It was important goal for us when Tom scored (the) first goal," Ovechkin said. "We just felt freedom."

Fehr increased Washington's lead to 3-0 after unleashing a slap shot from the left circle on a 3-on-2 rush.

Roberts' first goal of the season pulled the Lightning within 3-1 with a power-play tally at 16:30 of the second. Martin St. Louis fired a shot from the point and Mark Recchi put the rebound off Johnson's pads before Roberts took possession in front of the net and notched his first tally of the season.

"Three goals is the toughest lead to keep in hockey," Poti said. "We got a little bit away from our game plan and it showed."

A 65-goal scorer last season, the reigning Hart Trophy winner Ovechkin secured the victory with 4:06 left in the third.

Roberts struck again with 26 seconds remaining in the third, converting passes from former Capitals defenseman Steve Eminger and Jussi Jokinen.

"It was a real tough game and not the results we were looking for," Kolzig said. "I thought we were the better hockey team in the last two periods, but when it was 0-0, we were definitely not the better hockey team. We had a couple of breakdowns that allowed them two easy goals."

Midway through the second period, the Capitals killed a four-minute penalty after Donald Brashear was whistled for high-sticking and received two more minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct.

"At that moment, it was very important for us to kill the penalty," Ovechkin said. "We played well tonight."