Tonight is a rarity for an NHL playoff game in that it’s the second night in a row these teams will play. Tampa Bay won its sixth straight game – it was down 3-1 to Pittsburgh in the first round – with a 4-3 victory on Tuesday night. Washington was up 3-2 entering the third but Steven Stamkos and Ryan Malone scored 24 seconds apart in the third period for the Bolts. Washington had just one shot on goal through almost 13 minutes to open the third. The Caps are getting nothing from Nicklas Backstrom, who has not scored in 16 games and has just two assists in eight postseason games this spring. Now Tampa Bay is one win from reaching the East finals for the first time since Tampa Bay won its only Stanley Cup title in 2004.

The Lightning were without defenseman Pavel Kubina and winger Simon Gagne for Game 3 and neither is expected to play tonight. Washington defenseman Mike Green played just 59 seconds in the third period. "He got a lower-body injury," Coach Bruce Boudreau said. It's not known whether Green will be available for Game 4.

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