Capitals at Lightning
THE STORY: The Washington Capitals are where they want to be - in first place in the Southeast Division. But they have shown only glimpses of the team that many picked to win the Eastern Conference. Washington will start the post All-Star break portion of the season Tuesday at the Tampa Bay Lightning without its top two scorers Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin and top defenseman Mike Green. Washington plays nine of the next 14 on the road where it has earned only 18 of a possible 46 points. The Capitals will play a Tampa Bay team getting healthier and coming off four straight wins, but nine points behind them. Washington has beaten the Lightning twice - once in a shootout - this season.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, TSN2
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (26-19-3): Expect the Capitals to start firing from all angles. Under new coach Dale Hunter, Washington has only averaged 24.4 shots. Others will have to step up with Backstrom suffering from concussion symptoms and Ovechkin serving the second of a three-game suspension. Mathieu Perreault took Ovechkin’s place and scored his first career hat trick. Dennis Wideman has replaced injured Mike Green as the go-to defenseman with nine goals and 34 points. Goalie Tomas Vokoun is 13-7-3 all-time against the Lightning, but 5-8 on the road this season.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (21-23-4): The Lightning expect to get defenseman Victor Hedman and forwards Tom Pyatt and Ryan Shannon back from injuries for the second of a five-game homestand. Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis will try to extend six-game point streaks and Steven Stamkos leads the league in goals (32) by five. The return of Hedman helps a defense which has been better of late, but is still last in the NHL in goals against (3.38). Goalie Mathieu Garon has won three straight and has recorded his most victories (14) since 2007-08 with Edmonton.
OVERTIME:
1. Tampa Bay swept Washington in the playoffs last season, but has lost 22 of the last 28 regular-season meetings.
2. Washington has scored 135 goals and allowed 135.
3. Tampa Bay center Dominic Moore will play his 500th career game.