GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: WASHINGTON (6-12) at TAMPA BAY (9-9)

NHL: WASHINGTON (6-12) at TAMPA BAY (9-9)

<h3>Lecavalier looks to continue tear against Washington</h3>

<div class="pre">Washington (6-11-1) at Tampa Bay (9-8-1) 8:00 pm EST</div>

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) - Vincent Lecavalier is carrying theTampa Bay Lightning.


The center will look to lead the Lightning to their fifthstraight win on Friday against the Washington Capitals.

Lecavalier, who led the league with a career-best 52 goals lastseason, recorded a team-record fifth career hat trick and addedtwo assists in a 6-1 win over Carolina on Wednesday.

The nine-year veteran also set a team record with his sixthstraight multiple-point game, and is tied with Vaclav Prospalfor the team lead with 12 goals.


Lecavalier has been the leader of an offensive attack that hasscored five goals or more in each of the last three games.

Another key component of the winning streak is the play of thedefense and special teams. Tampa Bay has killed off 12 of itsopponents' last 13 power play opportunities, while goaltenderJohan Holmqvist has posted a 1.25 goals-against average in thelast four games.


The Capitals are heading in the opposite direction. Washington,which has scored two goals or less in six of its last sevengames, is coming off a 2-1 loss to Florida on Thursday.

Alex Ovechkin has scored a goal in three consecutive games forWashington, which has lost 12 of its last 15 games.

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NHL AT TAMPA BAY
STARTING GOALIES: WAS - BRENT JOHNSON
TAM - JOHAN HOLMQVIST

OFFICIALS: REF - CHRIS LEE, KELLY SUTHERLAND
LIN - DEREK AMELL, JEAN MORIN</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">WASHINGTON VS TAMPA BAY - SCRATCHES

WASHINGTON TAMPA BAY

B SUTHERBY HEALTHY
J ERSKINE HEALTHY
S EMINGER HEALTHY</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 0
TAMPA BAY 0 19:35 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 0
TAMPA BAY 1
1ST PRD: TAM - (PP) VINCENT LECAVALIER 13 (MARTIN ST. LOUIS, BRAD
RICHARDS) 1:31</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 0
TAMPA BAY 1 17:20 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 0
TAMPA BAY 1 11:10 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 0
TAMPA BAY 1 10:00 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 1
TAMPA BAY 1
1ST PRD: WAS - BROOKS LAICH 3 (SHAONE MORRISONN, BOYD GORDON) 12:46</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 2
TAMPA BAY 1
1ST PRD: WAS - ALEXANDER OVECHKIN 13 (CHRIS CLARK) 13:30</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 2
TAMPA BAY 2
1ST PRD: TAM - JAN HLAVAC 3 (UNASSISTED) 15:19</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NHL END OF THE 1ST 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
WASHINGTON 2 2
TAMPA BAY 2 2 END OF THE 1ST

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: TAM - (PP) VINCENT LECAVALIER 13 (MARTIN ST. LOUIS, BRAD
RICHARDS) 1:31
WAS - BROOKS LAICH 3 (SHAONE MORRISONN, BOYD GORDON) 12:46
WAS - ALEXANDER OVECHKIN 13 (CHRIS CLARK, NICKLAS BACKSTROM)
13:30
TAM - JAN HLAVAC 3 (UNASSISTED) 15:19

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
WAS 11 11
TAM 10 10

GOALIES: WAS - BRENT JOHNSON
TAM - JOHAN HOLMQVIST</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">------------------------
Washington 2 --2
Tampa Bay 2 --2
------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Tampa Bay, Vincent Lecavalier 13 (power
play) (Martin St. Louis, Brad Richards), 1:31. 2, Washington, Brooks
Laich 3 (Shaone Morrisonn, Boyd Gordon), 12:46. 3, Washington,
Alexander Ovechkin 13 (Chris Clark, Nicklas Backstrom), 13:30. 4,
Tampa Bay, Jan Hlavac 3 (Unassisted), 15:19. Penalties: J Schultz,
Was (cross checking), 1:11; C Gratton, Tam (hooking), 9:40; D
Brashear, Was (major fighting), 14:33; A Roy, Tam (major fighting),
14:33.

Shots on goal:
-----------------------------
Washington 11 --11
Tampa Bay 10 --10
-----------------------------

Goalies : Washington, Brent Johnson (10 shots, 8 saves). Tampa Bay,
Johan Holmqvist (11 shots, 9 saves). Referees: Chris Lee, Kelly
Sutherland. Linesmen: Derek Amell, Jean Morin.</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 2
TAMPA BAY 2 19:55 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 2
TAMPA BAY 2 12:50 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 2
TAMPA BAY 2 9:41 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 2
TAMPA BAY 3
2ND PRD: TAM - (PP) BRAD RICHARDS 7 (VINCENT LECAVALIER) 10:22</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 2
TAMPA BAY 3 8:53 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 2
TAMPA BAY 3 3:35 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 2
TAMPA BAY 3 1:31 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>