NHL: Alex Ovechkin scores four goals in Capitals' 6-5 shootout win over Lightning

Washington • Alex Ovechkin scored four goals, including the equalizer with 32.4 seconds left in regulation, and the Washington Capitals rallied to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-5 in a shootout Tuesday night.

Ovechkin increased his NHL-leading total to 26 goals and became Washington's career leader in power-play goals.

Nicklas Backstrom had a goal and four assists, and Troy Brouwer beat Tampa Bay goalie Ben Bishop in the fifth round of the shootout to provide the Capitals with their fifth win in six games.

Martin St. Louis and Tyler Johnson each had a goal and two assists for the Lightning, who squandered a three-goal lead in losing their sixth straight at Washington.

Ondrej Palat scored on a wrist shot between the circles after taking Johnson's centering pass from behind the net to put Tampa Bay up 5-4 at 8:36 of the third period.

It appeared that would hold up until Ovechkin scored from the left circle after Washington pulled goalie Philipp Grubauer.

Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos missed his 13th consecutive game with a broken right leg. EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

Boston 31 21 8 2 44 86 62

Montreal 32 19 10 3 41 85 71

Detroit 32 15 9 8 38 87 85

Tampa Bay 30 17 10 3 37 85 76

Toronto 31 16 12 3 35 86 87

Ottawa 32 12 14 6 30 92 105

Florida 32 10 17 5 25 73 106

Buffalo 31 7 22 2 16 53 92

Metropolitan Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

Pittsburgh 32 21 10 1 43 98 71

Washington 31 17 12 2 36 98 90

Carolina 32 13 13 6 32 75 91

N.Y. Rangers 32 15 16 1 31 70 84

New Jersey 32 12 14 6 30 73 82

Philadelphia 30 13 14 3 29 68 78

Columbus 31 13 15 3 29 78 86

N.Y. Islanders 31 8 18 5 21 77 109

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Central Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

Chicago 33 22 6 5 49 122 91

St. Louis 29 20 6 3 43 100 67

Minnesota 32 18 9 5 41 77 75

Colorado 29 20 9 0 40 83 68

Dallas 29 14 10 5 33 83 86

Winnipeg 32 14 14 4 32 83 90

Nashville 31 14 14 3 31 71 89

Pacific Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

Anaheim 33 21 7 5 47 106 86

Los Angeles 31 20 7 4 44 85 62

San Jose 30 19 6 5 43 101 75

Vancouver 33 18 10 5 41 88 81

Phoenix 30 17 8 5 39 97 94

Calgary 30 11 15 4 26 79 100

Edmonton 32 11 18 3 25 89 109

NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.

Tuesday's Games

Buffalo 2, Ottawa 1, SO

Washington 6, Tampa Bay 5, SO

Florida 3, Detroit 2, SO

Columbus 5, New Jersey 4

Los Angeles 6, Montreal 0

Nashville 4, N.Y. Rangers 1

St. Louis 2, Winnipeg 1

Chicago 6, Dallas 2

Phoenix 3, Colorado 1

Boston 2, Calgary 1

Edmonton 5, Carolina 4, OT

N.Y. Islanders at San Jose, late

Wednesday's Games

Los Angeles at Toronto, 5:30 p.m.

Philadelphia at Chicago, 6 p.m.

Minnesota at Anaheim, 8:30 p.m.