Washington @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 29, 2019 ) Tampa Bay 3, Washington 4

Captain Steven Stamkos has found some chemistry with his new linemates and looks to continue a goal-scoring surge when the Tampa Bay Lightning host the NHL-best Washington Capitals on Saturday. Stamkos boasts six of his team-high 13 goals in the last four games and seems to have found a home on right wing while skating with center Anthony Cirelli and Alex Killorn over the past few contests.

“Those two guys are having great seasons and they’re very versatile, smart players,” Stamkos said of his linemates after scoring twice in Thursday’s 3-2 victory over Boston. “They are big guys, they forecheck, create turnovers and open up space. For a guy like me, it makes the game a lot easier. I can try to jump into holes and make some reads off of them. … It’s been a lot of fun.” The Lightning have won three of their last four games and look to avenge a 4-3 overtime loss at Washington on Nov. 29 when they coughed up a two-goal lead in the third period and allowed defenseman Dmitry Orlov to score in the extra session. The Capitals have earned a point in eight of the last nine games (7-1-1) after grinding out a 3-2 victory over Boston on Wednesday, bouncing back after a disappointing 5-2 loss to Columbus at home two days earlier. “I think it was big,” Washington right wing T.J. Oshie told reporters after scoring twice Wednesday. “Obviously not our best performance a couple nights ago, and (Boston is) a great hockey club over there. … It was nice to see everyone get up for the game.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCS Washington, FS Sun (Tampa Bay)

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (23-5-5): Defenseman John Carlson continues adding to his Norris Trophy resume, recording four goals and five assists over the past six games to push his point total to 45 - 15 more than any other blueliner in the league. Captain Alex Ovechkin, who scored last month against the Lightning, has cooled off in December with one goal (his 21st) and one assist in the past five contests. Forward Jakub Vrana is second on the team with 15 goals, including six in his past 11 games, while center Nicklas Backstrom posted a goal and two assists in two games since returning from the injured list.

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (16-11-3): Reigning Hart Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov has been stuck on 198 career goals the last five games, but set up a pair of tallies Thursday and leads the club with 33 points. While Stamkos has caught fire on one end, last season’s Vezina Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevskiy (13-8-1, .910 save percentage) is warming up on the other, permitting four goals on 95 shots to earn victories in his last three starts. Center Brayden Point (11 goals) scored for the first time in six games this month Thursday after ending November with goals in three consecutive games - including one versus the Capitals.

OVERTIME

1. Washington G Braden Holtby is 5-1-1 in his last seven outings, posting a .925 save percentage in that span.

2. Tampa Bay C Mitchell Stephens is 13-3 on faceoffs in three games since being recalled for the first time in his career.

3. Capitals D Michal Kempny (three goals, 12 points, plus-12 rating) is slated to play his 200th NHL game Saturday.

PREDICTION: Lightning 4, Capitals 2