Tampa Bay 2, Washington 1

LIGHTNING 2, CAPITALS 1: Steven Stamkos scored his league-leading 40th goal and Mathieu Garon made 23 saves as Tampa Bay held off visiting Washington on Saturday

Stamkos scored on a breakaway to clinch his third straight 40-goal season in the second period as the Lightning handed the Caps their fourth loss in five games. Tampa Bay has beaten Washington four straight times at home, including the playoffs last season.

Garon made five big saves late, improving to 4-1-1 lifetime against the Caps.

Teddy Purcell’s shot squirted behind Caps goaltender Tomas Vokoun and Tom Pyatt was there to tap it in for his sixth goal just 2:10 into the game.

Stamkos made it 2-0 just 1:50 into the second, swiping the puck from Matt Hendricks and beating Vokoun with a nifty deke. Stamkos is the first Lightning player to score 40-plus goals in three separate seasons.

Brooks Laich trimmed the lead to 2-1 at 9:31 of the second, knocking home a Mathieu Perreault pass.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Former all-star defenseman Mike Green, out since Jan. 7 with a sports hernia, was back in the lineup for the Caps and played 14:14. He did not register a shot on goal. … Vincent Lecavalier (two), Martin St. Louis and Brian Bradley are the other Lightning players with 40-goal seasons. … Tampa Bay was 0 for 5 on the power play.

• Tampa Bay will play their next game at home against Anaheim . The Lightning have a W/L % of .520 after a win and .394 after a loss.
• Washington will play their next game on the road against Carolina . The Capitals have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .500 after a loss.