National Hockey League Scoreboard: Recap

Recap | Box Score | Today's Scoreboard

Washington 3, Tampa Bay 2

Posted: Friday November 01, 2002 11:43 PM

Tampa Bay Lightning Related Info: Team Page City Page: • Tampa

Washington Capitals Related Info: Team Page City Page: • Washington

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- The Tampa Bay Lightning may be enjoying the best start in franchise history, but they still have yet to figure out a way to stop Peter Bondra.

Bondra's power-play goal with 1:12 remaining lifted the Capitals to a 3-2 victory over the Lightning, who missed a chance to move seven games over .500 for the first time.

The Lightning entered November as one of the biggest surprises in the NHL and had won their last two games by a combined score of 9-1 after suffering their first loss Saturday at New Jersey.

Tampa Bay appeared on its way to at least one point, despite spending most of the third period in its own zone. But Brad Lukovich took a tripping penalty and shortly thereafter, Bondra scored his 38th career goal against the Lightning.

It is the highest total by any player against Tampa Bay. Among the 34-year-old right wing's highlights vs. the 10-year franchise was his career-high five-goal game on February 5, 1994.

The Capitals held a 14-2 advantage in shots during the third, but watched Nikolai Khabibulin make some spectacular saves. However, he was out of position when Bondra fired a hard shot from the right circle after taking a pass from offensive-minded defenseman Sergei Gonchar.

Gonchar's third assist of the night resulted in just Washington's second goal with the man advantage in its last 33 chances. It also ended a four-game (0-3-1) winless skid and marked the first time since an opening-night win that Capitals scored more than two goals.

All five Washington players on the ice touched the puck before Bondra gave the Capitals the lead. From the top of the left circle, Jaromir Jagr passed to Robert Lang in the corner. Lang backhanded a pass to Danius Zubrus at the doorstep and Zubrus did the same to Gonchar.

Gonchar set up at the point, drawing Khabibulin's attention before passing to Bondra, whose one-timer beat the goaltender and snapped his 10-game unbeaten streak (8-0-2), dating to last season.

"We didn't just hold the puck," Bondra said. "It was boom, boom, boom. You're going to score when you do that. Somebody has to be open when you do that. It was a tough angle, but I knew the goalie was halfway out."

"The power play has been beleaguered lately," Capitals coach Bruce Cassidy added. "They've been trying to straighten out when to run and when to shoot. That's what happens when you've got world class players out there. They work it out amongst themselves."

Lang and Steve Konowalchuk also tallied for Washington, which has won 14 of the last 17 meetings (14-2-1) with Tampa Bay.

Vincent LeCavalier and Martin St. Louis had goals for Tampa Bay, which has dropped its last 10 games in Washington.

Konowalchuk opened the scoring for Washington 8:07 into the contest. With Lang behind the net, he fed Konowalchuk and the 29-year-old left wing lifted a one-timer over Khabibulin.

Just over 10 minutes later, St. Louis tied the game following a Washington turnover. Andre Roy had defenseman Jean-Francois Fortin tangled up at his own blue line and pried the puck loose. After stealing the puck, he faked a shot from right side, before throwing a cross-ice pass that St. Louis put in the net.

Another Capitals' turnover gave the Lightning a one-goal lead. With 11:55 remaining in the second, Brian Sutherby's clearing pass at his own blue line was stolen by Cory Sarich. Sarich took a weak wrist shot and LeCavalier, who had streaked down the slot uncontested, put home the rebound.

However, less than three minutes later, Jagr and Lang teamed up to even the game. Along the right boards, Jagr drew all five Lightning defenders to him, then feathered a pass between two defenders to Lang, who skated through the left circle and snapped a one-timer past Khabibulin.

In the third, the Capitals had all sorts of chances, but were stoppped repeatly by Khabibuilin. During one span midway through the period, the acrobatic goaltender made three straight saves in a span of three seconds.

Khabibulin was nearly beaten by Glen Metropolit on a breakaway, but Metropolit was hauled down by Lukovich and had his backhander stopped.

With 3:02 remaining, Lukovich was called for tripping and 91 seconds later, Pavel Kubina was penalized for holding Jagr, setting up a two-man advantage, which the Capitals converted 19 seconds later.

"I thought we were the better team tonight," Cassidy said. "We did a lot of things right. We were safer with the puck. We bought into what we were trying to sell."

"They were better than us in the third period," Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella admitted. "We just seemed sluggish. For what reason, I don't know. They took it to us obviously. We were hoping to come out with a point, but it just didn't happen."