McMichael scores twice, Capitals get past Lightning

TAMPA -- Connor McMichael scored twice to help the Washington Capitals win their third straight game, 5-3 against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on Thursday.

Dylan Strome and Tom Wilson each had two assists, and Charlie Lindgren made 29 saves for the Capitals (26-21-8). Alex Ovechkin also had an assist, extending his point streak to 10 games (14 points; eight goals, six assists).

"I thought we were just so composed (in the third period) and it played out the way you thought," Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. "Even after giving up those two goals quickly ... the composure of the bench, our next shift after that ... you could just tell it wasn't a team that was rattled and it wasn't a team that was going to let a couple of bad scenarios determine our fate."

Brandon Hagel, Nicholas Paul and Tyler Motte scored for the Lightning (30-23-5), who have lost three straight, all at home. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 19 saves.

"These were games where we had an opportunity to get points and we didn't," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "This has been a team, the last few months, that has found a way to get points. For whatever reason, we've been a pretty darn good team here at Amalie, and to come away with zero points, especially the playoff battle we're in, is hard to swallow."

Rasmus Sandin put Washington ahead 4-3 at 15:01 of the third with a wrist shot from the high slot off a pass from behind the net by Aliaksei Protas. McMichael then scored into an empty net at 18:58 for the 5-3 final.

"[Dylan Strome] and ‘Pro’ made a great play there," Sandin said. “I just got on the ice and Pro found me, it was a big hole in the middle, and luckily I capitalized on it today."

Nicolas Aube-Kubel gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead at 2:30 of the first period after he split two defenders and scored with a backhand from the right face-off circle.

McMichael extended the lead to 2-0 at 16:19 with a wrist shot from the left circle. He scored twice for the second straight game and has five goals in his past four.

"I think we have a high-character group, and we know that," McMichael said. "There have been many wins this year where it's just straight character that got it done. I think tonight was another example."

Hagel cut it 2-1 at 9:16 of the second period with a shot from the left circle that beat Lindgren stick side. Hagel extended his point streak to 11 games (16 points; eight goals, eight assists).

Anthony Mantha pushed it to 3-1 at 12:14 when he finished off a 3-on-1 rush with a one-timer to the near post.

Paul cut it to 3-2 at 2:42 of the third period after he skated past Capitals defenseman Ethan Bear and beat Lindgren with his backhand.

"We knew we had to do what we could to win that game," Paul said. "And we came on hard and unfortunately fell short. And yeah, it's a tough one, you know? Just got to move past it now and just focus on these next couple of games and bear down."

Motte tied it 3-3 at 3:06 with a wrist shot from the left hash marks.

"Every game is disappointing when you lose," Paul said. "You play 82 games and we try to win them all. Unfortunately, it doesn't happen. You can't get too hung up on it. This time of year it's crunch time. We’ve got to find a way to win games. It wasn't tonight, but you’ve got to be able to turn the page on [it] pretty fast."

Strome had a goal overturned at 4:25 after Tampa Bay challenged for offside.

Capitals forward T.J. Oshie left the game midway through the third period with what appeared to be a noncontact injury. He crawled off the ice and sat on the bench briefly before being helped down the tunnel.

"[The concern] is fairly high," Carbery said. "We'll evaluate. I'll know more tomorrow, but it's never a good sign when you see a player leaving the ice like that."

NOTES: Lightning defenseman Haydn Fleury left the game early in the first period after taking a hit from Wilson along the end boards. Cooper had no update. ... Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov had an assist and leads the NHL with 95 points (36 goals, 59 assists). ... Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman was minus-2 with three shots on goal in a game-high 29:56 of ice time. … Lightning forward Brayden Point had a three-game goal streak end.