Ovechkin scores 4 goals
Alex Ovechkin's four goals lift the Washington Capitals to a victory over Tampa Bay.
ALEX OVECHKIN scored four goals, including the equalizer with 32.4 seconds left in regulation, and the Washington Capitals rallied to beat the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning, 6-5, in a shootout last night.
Ovechkin increased his NHL-leading total to 26 goals and became Washington's career leader in power-play goals, scoring twice with the extra man to pass Peter Bondra, who had 137.
Nicklas Backstrom had a goal and four assists, and Troy Brouwer beat Tampa Bay goalie Ben Bishop in the fifth round of the shootout to provide the Capitals with their fifth win in six games.
Martin St. Louis and Tyler Johnson each had a goal and two assists for the Lightning, who squandered a three-goal lead in losing their sixth straight at Washington.
In other games
* At New York, Nick Spaling and Rich Clune scored first-period goals, and seldom-used backup Carter Hutton made 28 saves as the Nashville Predators snapped a five-game losing streak by beating the Rangers, 4-1.
Rangers captain Ryan Callahan will be sidelined for 4 to 6 weeks because of a sprained left knee sustained during the game. Callahan, tied for second on the Rangers with seven goals, was injured midway through the first period when he was checked by Predators defenseman Victor Bartley.
* At Montreal, rookie Martin Jones made 30 saves for his second shutout in as many games, and six Los Angeles players scored in the Kings' 6-0 victory over the Canadiens.
* At Dallas, Patrick Sharp and Brandon Saad each scored two goals as the Chicago Blackhawks blasted the Stars, 6-2.
* At Columbus, Nick Foligno scored the game-winning goal with 91 seconds left when Ryan Johansen's shot went in off his skate, giving the Blue Jackets a 5-4 victory over New Jersey.
* At Buffalo, Zemgus Girgensons scored the tying goal in the second period and added a score in the 10th round of a shootout to lift the Sabres to a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators.
* At Sunrise, Fla., Brad Boyes scored the winning goal in a shootout to lift the Florida Panthers over the Detroit Red Wings, 3-2.
Florida has won two in a row against the Red Wings.
* At Winnipeg, Kevin Shattenkirk scored a power-play goal with 3:02 remaining in the third period to lift St. Louis over the Jets, 2-1.
Noteworthy
*
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf has been suspended two games for his hit from behind on Kevan Miller of the Boston Bruins.
Phaneuf will not play against Los Angeles tonight and at St. Louis tomorrow. He loses more than $66,000 in salary.