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Green sets scoring mark for defenseman as Capitals top Lightning

Feb 15, 2009 - 4:40 AM TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Michal Neuvirth made a splash in his NHL debut Saturday, but it was Mike Green who once again stole the spotlight with a record-setting performance.

Green established an NHL mark for a defenseman by scoring in his eighth straight game and Neuvirth made 31 saves to help the Washington Capitals post a 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Alexander Semin added a tally and two assists and All-Star Alex Ovechkin scored his league-leading 38th goal of the season for the Capitals.

With Washington already ahead, 3-0, thanks to a trio of first-period goals that chased rookie netminder Mike McKenna, Green broke the record held by Mike O'Connell of the Boston Bruins at 5:33 of the second period with his 22nd goal of the season.

"It was a pretty cool thing," Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said. "I was so proud of Mike, and I was really, really happy that his dad was here to see it. That's really special."

During a power play, Green unleashed a shot that was blocked. But he picked up the loose puck and slapped it past goaltender Karri Ramo from between the faceoff circles for the record-breaking tally.

"It seemed like they weren't very responsible, back door and in the slot," Green said. "So I kind of had to slip in there, and I'm playing with some of the best players in the world. It's incredible."

O'Connell scored in seven straight games during the 1983-84 season.

Blue-liner Shaone Morrisonn and Eric Fehr also scored and Nicklas Backstrom recorded a pair of assists for Washington, which improved to 5-1-1 in its last seven games and has won eight straight meetings with Tampa Bay.

Ryan Malone netted the lone goal for the Lightning, who fell to 2-5-1 in their last eight games and 2-2-0 on their six-game homestand.

"I felt a couple of times, we had pucks in the slot and we were passing it, and that's the one thing that kind of upsets me. Shoot the puck, get to the net," Tampa Bay interim coach Rick Tocchet said. "You stress in practice, 'Don't be fancy, shoot the puck, no cross-ice passes, short shifts.' You stress all that stuff, and it seems like when it's 3-0, sometimes you get away from that."

Malone's tally spoiled an otherwise spectacular debut for Neuvirth, who was great with the glove throughout while facing only four shots in the third period.

"I still can't believe that. That was the best feeling ever," Neuvirth said of the win. "I still can't believe my parents saw my first NHL win. It was amazing. What can I say? It's unreal. I was feeling more comfortable with every save I made. That was a great job from the guys, and I just want to say thanks to them. They played perfect."

"(Neuvirth) was probably nervous handling the puck in the first 10 seconds," Boudreau said. "But after that, I thought in the first period, it was a 3-0 first period, and he made some great saves and kept us in the game. That's what you need goalies to do."

Semin, who returned to the lineup after a one-game absence due to an undisclosed injury, worked with Backstrom on a nifty give-and-go to put Washington ahead at 5:02 of the first period. Ovechkin and Morrisonn also tallied in the first period to run McKenna, who made nine saves before exiting the contest.

"We lost the game 5-1, that's a pretty good inclination of how poor it was all around," McKenna said. "I wish I would have been a lot better in the first so it would have given us a chance to come out of that even."

The NHL leader among defensemen in goals and points (50), the 23-year-old Green had his initial shot blocked by Matt Pettinger. But his relentless effort paid off as the native of Calgary etched his name into the record books while giving Washington a 4-0 lead.

"I wasn't really expecting that," Green said of the entire team coming onto the ice to celebrate. "But it was exciting. It almost brought a little tear to my eye, so I was pretty jacked up."

Green is just one away from matching the franchise record for consecutive games with a goal shared by Alan Haworth and Mike Gartner.

Ramo made 18 saves during his two periods of action in the third of six meetings between the Southeast Division rivals.