Finally, Lightning Finds a Team to Beat at Home

Tampa Bay is everybody’s doormat, but as far as Washington Coach Ron Wilson is concerned, the Lightning resembles the Czech Olympic team.

It took 10 games spread over two months for Tampa Bay to win a home game in 1998, and when that victory came, it figured to be over the Capitals, the Lightning’s patsies.

Mark Fitzpatrick made 35 saves, Paul Ysebaert scored twice and the team with the worst record in hockey completed a hat trick against playoff-bound Washington with a 5-2 victory Saturday.

Tampa Bay also beat the Capitals in the last game before the Olympic break and the first game after the teams resumed play, both times in Washington.

“I’ve seen this happen at the Olympics,” said Wilson, who coached the U.S. team at Nagano. “You get frustrated with your inability to score, then you let your guard down for a second and the other team takes advantage.”

Chicago 4, Colorado 0--Jeff Hackett stopped 33 shots for his sixth shutout of the season and 12th of his career for the Blackhawks, who ended a three-game losing streak by winning at Denver.

Dallas 4, Phoenix 0--Ed Belfour faced only 13 shots in his eighth shutout of the season and 39th of his career, and Jamie Langenbrunner and Grant Marshall scored two goals to lead the Stars at Dalas.

New Jersey 4, Carolina 3--Doug Gilmour scored with 7.4 seconds to play to give the Devils a win at East Rutherford, N.J.

Edmonton 4, San Jose 1--Curtis Joseph had 26 saves for the Oilers, who took over sole possession of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference by winning at Edmonton.

Vancouver 6, Ottawa 4--Mark Messier’s third-period goal tied the score, 3-3, and Pavel Bure’s goal 33 seconds later put the Canucks ahead for good at Vancouver.

Philadelphia 3, N.Y. Rangers 1--Trent Klatt and Eric Lindros scored two goals in less than two minutes of the third period for the Flyers, who won to spoil John Muckler’s coaching debut in New York.

Boston 6, Pittsburgh 2--P.J. Axelsson scored a breakaway goal only 16 seconds into the game and the Bruins added two more first-period goals from Dmitri Kristich and Ray Bourque in a win at Boston.

Toronto 4, Montreal 0--Fredrik Modin scored a goal and assisted on two others and Felix Potvin stopped 26 shots for his fourth shutout of the season in the Maple Leafs’ win at Toronto, their first at home over Montreal in more than five years.