TAMPA, Fla. — Nikita Kucherov got his second goal of the game on a power play in overtime, Tampa Bay held high-scoring Alex Ovechkin pointless and the Lightning beat the Washington Capitals 4-3 on Monday night.
Kucherov’s winner at 3:08 came after the Capitals were assessed a too many men on the ice penalty.
Ovechkin entered with seven goals in Washington’s first two games this season
Tampa Bay got goals from Alex Killorn, and Chris Kunitz, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 23 saves.
T.J. Oshie had two goals and an assist, while Nicklas Backstrom added a goal and two assists for the Capitals. Philipp Grubauer stopped 36 shots in his first game of the season.
Kucherov tied it at 3 on an in-close backhander at 10:46 of the third.
Ovechkin had three goals in the third period in Thursday’s opening night win at Ottawa, then matched the feat while helping chase Montreal goalie Carey Price in the first period Saturday. He added his fourth goal in the second period against Al Montoya.
Ovechkin, bidding to become the first NHL player to have a hat trick in three consecutive games, had a power-play scoring chance from the left circle in the second turned aside by Vasilevskiy.
Backstrom and Oshie, on a power play deflection from the slot, scored 1:23 apart late in the first as Washington took a 2-0 lead.
After Killorn and Oshie, with the man advantage, traded goals early in the second, Kunitz’s redirection cut the deficit to 3-2 with 1:51 left in the period.
Grubauer made several strong saves, including Steven Stamkos’ left circle drive, during an early third period power play.
Vasilevskiy stopped a first-period breakaway by Evgeny Kuznetsov, who got his eighth assist on Oshie’s second goal.
The Capitals return home to face two-time Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Wednesday night.
The Lightning host Pittsburgh Thursday night.
NOTES: Oshie has 12 goals and 22 points in 15 games against Tampa Bay. … Backstrom’s goal was his 189th goal with the Capitals and moved him past Bob Carpenter into eighth place on the franchise career list. … Tampa Bay sent F Michael Bournival to Syracuse of the AHL.
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