Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

Sports

Caps eye third straight win in Tampa

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

The Washington Capitals take aim at a third straight win on Thursday when they visit the struggling Tampa Bay Lightning at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

Washington was able to string back-to-back wins together for the first time this season on Tuesday, as Troy Brouwer scored 32 seconds into overtime to lift the Capitals to a 6-5 come-from-behind victory over the Florida Panthers to sweep a home-and-home series with them.

"Obviously we'll take the two points," winger Eric Fehr told the Capitals' official website after recording a goal and assist Tuesday. "But we've got to find a way to keep pucks out of our net and just be a little bit stronger in our own zone.

"But obviously this is big for us, it's a momentum swing for us and we feel like we're back a little bit."

Down 5-3 in the third period, the Capitals got goals from Eric Fehr and Alex Ovechkin in a 2:18 span, then thwarted a Florida power play that extended into overtime.

Moments after successfully killing the high-sticking penalty assessed to Mathieu Perreault, Nicklas Backstrom sent a pass that resulted in a breakaway for Brouwer.

Florida goalie Scott Clemmensen made the initial stop, but Brouwer was able to bang home his rebound.

Mike Ribeiro also had a goal and two assists for the Capitals, who picked up their first road win of the season. Washington had defeated Florida, 5-0, on Saturday.

"Every win is important," coach Adam Oates told the team's website. "To stay with it for 60 minutes is something we talk about all the time."

Tampa, meanwhile, has dropped five straight, but managed to earn a point on Tuesday in a 4-3 shootout loss to Montreal. Anders Lindback made 31 saves in defeat, while Victor Hedman tallied twice and Sami Salo added another goal for the Lightning, who scored all three of their goals in the third period.

"In the third period, our character showed up, again," Tampa Bay head coach Guy Boucher said. "We have to build on a positive. That's extremely positive."

It is their longest slide since going 0-6-1 from Jan. 3-15, 2012.

Tampa Bay beat the Capitals back on Jan. 19 and has won four of the last five meetings. Washington has also dropped four straight and six of nine as the visitors in this series.