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Caps continue push for playoffs in Tampa

Thu 27th, March 2008

(Sports Network) - Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals are doing everything they can to try and secure a playoff spot, but it hasn't been enough so far. The club will try to rack up another victory tonight in a road test against the Tampa Bay Lightning at St. Pete Times Forum.

Washington has won six of its last seven games and is 3-1-0 so far on a six- game road trip, but still finds itself ninth overall in the Eastern Conference and two points back of eighth-seeded Boston. Also working against the Capitals is that the Bruins, who are in action tonight, have played one fewer game.

The Capitals also kept their division title hopes alive on Tuesday, downing first-place Carolina, 3-2, in a shootout. Viktor Kozlov scored the only goal in the extra session to lift his club.

Washington is now four points back of the Hurricanes in the Southeast standings with five games left to play. The Capitals haven't captured a division crown since 2000-01 and have missed the postseason in each of the last three seasons.

Alexander Semin and Ovechkin scored in regulation for the Capitals, Nicklas Backstrom collected two assists, while Cristobal Huet stopped 25 shots and all three shooters in the extra segment.

Ovechkin's marker was his league-leading 61st of the year, setting a new franchise record for most goals in a single season. Dennis Maruk held the previous team mark of 60, set in 1981-82.

Ovechkin, the first 60-goal scorer in the NHL since Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux (69) and Jaromir Jagr (62) both accomplished the feat during the 1995-96 campaign, posted his career-high 107th point of the season that is also tops in the league. The Russian sniper notched 106 points in his rookie campaign in 2005-06.

Ovechkin has three goals and three assists in six games against Tampa Bay this year, while David Steckel is tops on the club with four goals against the Lightning.

Washington is 18-16-5 on the road this year and wrap this trek in Florida on Saturday.

Tampa Bay is last in the Southeast and the Eastern Conference with 68 points, but does bring a three-game home winning streak into tonight's test. The Lightning won the opener of a four-game residency on Tuesday by knocking off Florida, 3-1.

Jeff Halpern had a goal and two assists, while Michel Ouellet and Filip Kuba also tallied a goal each. Karri Ramo had a solid night between the pipes, making a career-high 34 saves while filling in for the injured Mike Smith. Smith was scratched with a left knee injury suffered in practice on Monday and is questionable for tonight.

Tampa Bay halted a three-game overall losing streak and is 19-17-2 at home this year. The Lightning will also host Carolina and Atlanta on this stand.

Washington has won four of its six tests against Tampa Bay this year, but has lost seven of 12 and eight of its last 14 against the Lightning. Tampa has won four of its last six as the host versus the Capitals.

Ramo has lost his only game against the Capitals this year, allowing three goals, while leading scorer Vincent Lecavalier has four goals and six assists in six games against them this year.

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