Green Sets Record For Defensemen As Capitals Crush

Semin assisted on Green`s second-period goal before Ryan Malone put Tampa Bay on the scoreboard.

Mike Green set an NHL record for defensemen with a goal in his eighth successive game to power the Washington Capitals to a 5-1 rout of the Tampa Bay Lightning in Tampa, Florida on Saturday.

Green staked the Southeast Division leaders to a 4-0 lead with his power-play goal 5:33 into the second period. The score beat the previous mark of goals in seven consecutive games by Boston's Mike O'Connell during the 1983-84 season.

Alexander Semin, Alex Ovechkin and Shaone Morrisonn had first-period goals for the Capitals and Eric Fehr capped off the scoring in the third.

Semin notched his 21st goal of the season 5:02 into the opening period with Ovechkin following about eight minutes later off an assist by his Russian team mate. The goal was Ovechkin's league-leading 38th of the season.

Morrisonn scored his goal with 40 seconds left in the first.

Semin assisted on Green's second-period goal before Ryan Malone put Tampa Bay on the scoreboard.

Michal Neuvirth recorded his first NHL victory in goal for Washington. He had 31 saves.

Tampa Bay's Mike McKenna lasted only one period, giving up three goals on 12 shots. Karri Ramo finished in net, making 18 saves on 20 shots.

Standings from the NHL on Saturday
EASTERN CONFERENCE
ATLANTIC DIVISION

             W  L  OTL GF  GA  PTS
 1. New Jersey   36 17 3   173 136 75
 2. Philadelphia 29 16 9   174 159 67
 3. NY Rangers   30 20 6   141 155 66
 4. Pittsburgh   27 25 5   171 175 59
 5. NY Islanders 16 33 6   134 187 38
 NORTHEAST DIVISION

             W  L  OTL GF  GA  PTS
 1. Boston       39 10 8   192 130 86
 2. Montreal     30 20 6   170 168 66
 3. Buffalo      29 21 6   168 156 64
 4. Toronto      21 25 10  171 206 52
 5. Ottawa       21 25 8   135 155 50
 SOUTHEAST DIVISION

             W  L  OTL GF  GA  PTS
 1. Washington   35 16 5   187 161 75
 2. Florida      28 19 8   158 151 64
 3. Carolina     27 24 5   143 166 59
 4. Tampa Bay    19 26 11  142 176 49
 5. Atlanta      19 32 5   157 194 43
 WESTERN CONFERENCE
 CENTRAL DIVISION

             W  L  OTL GF  GA  PTS
 1. Detroit      37 12 7   210 162 81
 2. Chicago      31 15 8   181 137 70
 3. Columbus     28 23 5   153 155 61
 4. Nashville    27 26 3   138 158 57
 5. St. Louis    23 25 7   158 171 53
 NORTHWEST DIVISION

             W  L  OTL GF  GA  PTS
 1. Calgary      33 18 5   178 165 71
 2. Edmonton     28 23 4   156 170 60
 3. Vancouver    26 21 8   165 161 60
 4. Minnesota    28 24 3   142 129 59
 5. Colorado     25 30 1   150 173 51
 PACIFIC DIVISION

             W  L  OTL GF  GA  PTS
 1. San Jose     37 7  9   183 129 83
 2. Dallas       27 21 7   166 172 61
 3. Anaheim      28 24 5   159 158 61
 4. Los Angeles  24 22 8   140 150 56
 5. Phoenix      25 27 5   145 175 55

NHL results on Saturday (home team in
CAPS)
 PHILADELPHIA 5 NY Islanders 1
 Edmonton     3 LOS ANGELES  2 (SO)
 Columbus     5 CAROLINA     1
 TORONTO      6 Pittsburgh   2
 Washington   5 TAMPA BAY    1
 Ottawa       5 MINNESOTA    3
 NASHVILLE    3 Boston       2 (SO)
 CHICAGO      6 Dallas       2
 Calgary      7 PHOENIX      5 (SO denotes shootout)