Capitals upend defending champion Lightning to snap two-game skid

On a night the Washington Capitals were starving for something positive, John Carlson delivered a double helping against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions at Capital One Arena.

The Capitals’ top defenseman scored a pair of goals Wednesday in a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, each providing a two-goal lead. The second, a blistering wrist shot on the power play that came from between the circles, provided a measure of relief for an anxious home crowd. The Capitals have wobbled in the season’s closing weeks and were coming off a pair of lopsided losses to postseason contenders.