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(Sports Network) - Alex Ovechkin will return from suspension tonight when his Southeast Division champion Washington Capitals visit the Tampa Bay Lightning at St. Pete Times Forum.

Despite sitting out the last two games for shoving Chicago defenseman Brian Campbell into the boards on Sunday, Ovechkin is still leading the NHL with 96 points on the year. With 44 goals, he has fallen one tally behind Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby for the league lead.

It was the second suspension this season for the Russian superstar after he also missed two games in December for a knee-on-knee hit against Carolina's Tim Gleason.

The Capitals went 1-0-1 without Ovechkin in the lineup, pounding Florida, 7-3, on Tuesday before dropping an overtime decision Thursday at Carolina. Ray Whitney scored the game-winning goal with just under a minute left in OT to lift the Hurricanes to the 4-3 win at RBC Center.

Joe Corvo scored twice for the Capitals, who had a two-game winning streak snapped. Eric Fehr also lit the lamp for Washington, which got 25 saves from Semyon Varlamov.

Washington forward Brooks Laich added an assist to push his point streak to five games. He has four goals and three helpers during the run.

With the division title wrapped up, Washington is focused on clinching the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The Capitals lead the East with 104 points and are 15 ahead of second-seeded Pittsburgh.

Tonight marks the end of a four-game road trip for the Caps, who have a solid 21-10-6 record as the guest this year.

The Lightning enter tonight six points behind Boston for the eighth and final postseason berth in the East, but Tampa has not helped its playoff chances recently, dropping three straight and 10 of its last 12 outings.

Tampa Bay was dealt a lopsided loss its last time out, getting slammed 6-2 by the visiting Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. Jason Pominville picked up his second career hat trick to lead the way for the Sabres.

Steve Downie and Vincent Lecavalier scored for the Lightning, while Antero Niittymaki gave up five goals on 27 shots in the setback.

"We just looked very nervous. I thought we were ready to play, and we just looked nervous. That's on me," said Lightning head coach Rick Tocchet.

Tampa will try to salvage a win in the finale of a four-game homestand tonight. The Bolts are 18-11-6 overall as the host this year.

Tonight marks the final meeting of the regular season between Tampa and the Caps. Washington has won three of five matchups so far and has taken 14 of the last 16 encounters overall. The Capitals have nine victories in their last 14 trips to the Forum.

Washington is 16-3-1 against the Southeast as a whole this season.