Ovechkin scores in return; Caps beat Lightning 3-1

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Alex Ovechkin scored a goal in his return following a two-game NHL suspension and Jose Theodore made 33 saves as the Washington Capitals beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1 on Saturday night. soccer jerseys
The two-time defending MVP took a long pass off the boards from Nicklas Backstrom, skated in on a breakaway and easily scored on Antero Niittymaki to give Washington a 2-1 lead.
It was Ovechkin's 45th goal of the season and his NHL-leading 97th point.
Tomas Fleischmann and Alexander Semin also scored for Washington (48-14-10). Vincent Lecavalier had the Lightning's only goal.
Ovechkin was suspended two games for shoving Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell from behind and sending him into the boards last Sunday. Campbell broke his collarbone and ribs, and is expected to miss at least the rest of the regular season.
Fleischmann scored the first goal for the Capitals just 2:40 into the game when he took a pass in the slot from Dan Steckel and caught Niittymaki out of position.
Tampa Bay stormed back when Lecavalier took a feed from Teddy Purcell and pushed a shot past Theodore.
That was all that Theodore would allow. He turned aside several odd-man rushes, including a point-blank shot by Lecavalier midway through the first period. Martin St. Louis was denied during a 2-on-1 rush in the second period.
Semin scored in the third period, scoring off a rebound of Brooks Laich's slap shot.
NOTES: The Lightning lost all four games on their homestand and dropped to 11th in the Eastern Conference Standings, six points behind eighth-place Boston. ... Tampa Bay was 0 for 5 on the power play. ... Washington coach Bruce Boudreau remains undecided on whether Theodore or Semyon Varlamov will be the Capitals' starting goalie in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.