TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Steven Stamkos and Ryan Malone scored 24 seconds apart in the third period and the streaking Tampa Bay Lightning beat Washington 4-3 to push the top-seeded Capitals to the brink of elimination in the Eastern Conference semifinals on Tuesday night.
After winning twice in Washington, the Lightning returned home and rallied to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. Tampa Bay can advance to the conference finals with a victory at home on Wednesday night in Game 4.
Vincent Lecavalier and Sean Bergenheim also scored for the fifth-seeded Lightning, whose sixth straight postseason win gave them their big lead in the best-of-seven series. Tampa Bay hasn't lost since falling into a 3-1 hole against Pittsburgh in the first round.
Alex Ovechkin had a power-play goal and an assist for Washington, which led 3-2 heading into third period after Mike Knuble, John Carlson and Ovechkin scored in the second.
Dwayne Roloson stopped 29 shots for the Lightning.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Ryan Kesler scored his second power-play goal at 10:45 of overtime, and Vancouver beat Nashville and grabbed a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinal series.
Kesler scored his first two goals of the postseason and had an assist, and Chris Higgins had a goal for Vancouver. The Canucks, the Presidents' Trophy winners in the regular season, bounced back from a 2-1, double-overtime loss in Game 2 and regained home-ice advantage.
Game 4 is Thursday night in Nashville.
Joel Ward and David Legwand both scored for the Predators, who matched the Canucks' energy but not their shots. Vancouver outshot Nashville 40-26 through regulation.
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