Still struggling to adjust to the pace of the NHL in just his fourth game back in the lineup, Pothier made the instinctive play that’s been missing so far. A point shot deflected off the skate of Tampa Bay forward Vaclav Prospal and into the slot and Pothier quickly jumped on the puck and fired it home stick side for his first goal since Dec. 27, 2007.

“It’s been a while and feels really good,” said Pothier, who received a standing ovation from the crowd. “I had to hold back the emotion a little bit. But just to feel like I’m contributing…to put one in and an important goal was pretty special.”

The Caps’ top players produced against Tampa. Forward Alex Ovechkin drew some “MVP” chants from the sellout crowd for his two-goal, two-assist performance. It was his first four-point night since Nov. 26 at Anaheim and third of the season. Ovechkin has reached the 100-point mark for the third time in his four-year career.

Meanwhile, center Nicklas Backstrom had his first two-goal game since March 21, 2008 and finished with three points. Left wing Brooks Laich finished with three assists and had a goal waved off by the referee, who ruled teammate Michael Nylander had interfered with McKenna in the crease. Earlier, a Backstrom goal was reviewed to see if he kicked the puck into the net, but was upheld. It was a consistent theme for Tampa Bay goalie Mike McKenna.

“Before Ovechkin’s [first-period goal], whoever it was in the crease pushed me deep into it and I couldn’t play the position like I was supposed to,” said McKenna, who finished with 34 saves on 38 Washington shots. “The [waved-off goal] is the way the rule is supposed to be called. … But the league wants goals. They can’t stand goaltenders so they have to find a way to get them by us.”

The Caps (46-23-7, 99 points) are back to a 10-point lead in the Southeast Division. They also passed the New Jersey Devils (47-23-4, 98 points) for second place in the Eastern Conference. Washington drew a season-high nine power-play opportunities against the Lightning. Coach Bruce Boudreau will give his illness-ravaged team two days off before resuming practice on Monday.

“It’s good to have a mental break. It comes at a good time,” Boudreau said. “Sometimes getting away from the game [is important]. To be on all the time is a difficult thing.”

Caps notes

» Washington has now won 10 games in a row vs. Tampa Bay. It is only the second time in franchise history the Caps have a double-digit win streak against an opponent.

» The Caps set a season high for most power-play goal in a period when they scored three in the first.

» Verizon Center has been sold out for 22 of the last 24 games. The Caps’ hosted their 26th sellout of the season on Friday night.

» Caps center Keith Aucoin said after the game he will return to AHL affiliate Hershey on Saturday morning.

» Forward Oskar Osala, recalled from Hershey on Friday, played 6 minutes, 12 seconds of ice time and was a minus-1.

» Defenseman Mike Green recorded a pair of assists. He has 28 goals and 67 assists on the season.