WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Alexander Semin delivered a hat trick Thursday, all the goals coming in a wild third period that lifted the Washington Capitals to a 6-3 victory over Tampa Bay.
The Capitals held a 2-1 lead going into the final period and the Lightning tied it on a power-play goal from Ryan Malone 2:43 into the stanza.
Semin then had a hand in all four goals Washington produced the rest of the way. He scored a power-play tally 1:50 after Malone's goal and added a slapshot midway through the period that got the best of Dan Ellis.
Steven Stamkos brought Tampa Bay back within one with 7:17 to go, but Semin assisted on an Alex Ovechkin goal with 4:52 left and finally scored an empty-netter with 16 seconds remaining. Semin has 12 goals for the season, three more than Ovechkin.
It was Washington's sixth straight victory. The Capitals lead the NHL with 12 wins and 24 points.
Michal Neuvirth made 38 saves for the victory. Ellis allowed five goals on 25 shots.
