NHL-Caps snap four-game slide by downing Lightning

WASHINGTON, Oct 24 (Reuters) - The Washington Capitals beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-3 on Wednesday to snap a four-game losing streak, with captain Chris Clark scoring his first two goals of the season.

Clark marked his return to the top line by scoring twice, including the game winner, while Alex Ovechkin wrapped up the scoring with an empty netter. The Russian winger also had two assists as the Caps returned to .500 (4-4-0).

"We had to stop that four-game losing streak and we did it against a pretty good team and a divisional opponent too," Clark said.

The Capitals also had solid goaltending in the form of Olaf Kolzig, who made 26 saves.

"No team is going to go anywhere without great goaltending," Washington coach Glen Hanlon said.

"We've had great goaltending all season long. We emphasise playing 60 solid minutes. We want wins."

Clark opened the scoring in the first period, with an assist from Ovechkin, but Tampa levelled at 1-1 on Jason Ward's first goal of the season.

Washington's Dave Steckel and Tampa's Paul Ranger traded goals to make it 2-2 but the Capitals opened up a two-goal cushion late in the period through Brooks Laich and Clark.

Tampa's Martin St. Louis made it 4-3 at 14:06 of the third period but Ovechkin's goal with four seconds left to play made the game safe for the Capitals.

Tampa Bay (4-3-0) have lost all three of their road games this season.

"I thought we played some good minutes and I thought we played some terrible minutes," Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella said.

The Lightning had to play without forward Vincent Lecavalier for most of the third period after he received instigator and game misconduct penalties for a fight with Shaone Morrisonn.

*The Carolina Hurricanes scored four goals in the third period to beat the Buffalo Sabres 6-2, their first win over the Sabres in two years.

*Olli Jokinen became Florida's career goals and points leader by scoring a pair of goals in the Panthers' 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.

*The Detroit Red Wings moved into a tie for first place in the Western Conference with Minnesota after Tomas Holmstrom scored twice in a 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks.

*The Calgary Flames railled from three goals down in the first period to beat the Minnesota Wild 5-3 win. (Writing by Roger Lajoie in Boston)