Steven Stamkos and Ryan Malone scored 24 seconds apart in the third period and the streaking Lightning beat Washington 4-3 to push the top-seeded Capitals to the brink of elimination in the Eastern Conference semifinals last night in Tampa, Fla.

After winning twice in Washington, the Lightning returned home and rallied to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. Tampa Bay can advance to the conference finals with a victory at home tonight in Game 4.

Vincent Lecavalier and Sean Bergenheim also scored for the fifth-seeded Lightning, whose sixth straight postseason win gave it a commanding lead in the best-of-seven series. Tampa Bay hasn’t lost since falling into a 3-1 hole against Pittsburgh in the first round.

Alex Ovechkin had a power-play goal and an assist for Washington, which led 3-2 heading into third period after Mike Knuble, John Carlson and Ovechkin scored in the second.

Canucks 3, Predators 2 (OT)

In Nashville, Tenn., Ryan Kesler scored his second power-play goal at 10:45 of overtime, and the Canucks grabbed a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinal series.

Kesler scored his first two goals of the postseason and had an assist, and Chris Higgins had a goal for Vancouver. The Canucks, the Presidents’ Trophy winners in the regular season, bounced back from a 2-1, double-overtime loss in Game 2 and regained home-ice advantage.

Joel Ward and David Legwand both scored for the Predators. Fans in the sellout crowd reacted angrily, throwing towels and other debris onto the ice.