WASHINGTON: Alexander Semin scored three third-period goals and added two assists to power the Washington Capitals to their sixth straight NHL win, beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-3 Thursday. With the score tied 2-2, Semin converted on a power play with 15:27 left, knuckling a shot from between the circles. With 9:14 remaining, Semin one-timed a pass for his team-high 11th goal and a two-goal lead, and then added an empty-net goal with 16 seconds remaining. Alex Ovechkin had a goal and two assists, while Tom Poti and Mike Knuble also scored for Washington. Steven Stamkos, the NHL's scoring leader, had a goal and an assist for the Lightning. Teddy Purcell and Ryan Malone also netted for Tampa Bay. Flyers 8, Hurricanes 1: In Raleigh, North Carolina, Jeff Carter had his second career hat trick, leading Philadelphia to a rout of Carolina. Danny Briere scored two goals, Scott Hartnell had a goal and an assist, and Nikolay Zherdev and Mike Richards also scored for the Atlantic Division-leading Flyers. They led 3-0 less than 2 minutes into the second period and cruised to their seventh win in eight games and their eighth straight over the Hurricanes. Chad LaRose scored for Carolina. Canadiens 3, Bruins 1: In Boston, rookie defenseman P.K. Subban scored his first NHL regular-season goal to help Montreal defeat Boston. Montreal's Carey Price stopped 34 shots, but at the other end Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask continued his unlucky season, losing for the fifth time in five appearances despite making 38 saves. Brian Gionta also scored for Montreal, and Scott Gomez made it 3-1 midway through the third period. The Canadiens have won four in a row in Boston. Kings 3, Stars 1: In Los Angeles, the hosts matched the best home start in franchise history by beating Dallas. Justin Williams scored the tiebreaking power-play goal with 13:09 to play, Jonathan Quick made 27 saves, while captain Dustin Brown and Jack Johnson also scored for the Western Conference-leading Kings, who improved to 7-0-0 at Staples Center. In other games it was: Canucks 6, Senators 2; Predators 3, Blues 2, SO; Thrashers 5, Wild 1; Red Wings 6, Oilers 2; Rangers 3, Sabres 2, OT; Sharks 2, Islanders 1, SO.
