Photo: John McCreary/NHLI via Getty Images

With the Washington Capitals needing a bounce-back performance following players-only meetings after recent poor showings, defenseman John Carlson helped deliver with four points against the Tampa Bay Lightning in a 4-3 victory.

Carlson got the home team on the board early, scoring his 12th goal of the 2021-22 season at the 7:38 mark of the first period, giving the Caps a 2-0 lead; assists were credited to Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom.

A little thunderclap for that lightning pic.twitter.com/l5fe5wQSgH

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 7, 2022

Carlson scored his second of the night in the final minutes of the second frame, potting his second power play marker of the night for a 4-2 Capitals lead.

Make that a four-point night (so far) for John Carlson! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/4GNWsaKSix

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 7, 2022

Carlson also picked up two assists on goals by Martin Fehervary and Alex Ovechkin (who recorded his 1,400th career point on the mark), giving him his third career, four-point game.

John Carlson (WSH74) had a dominant two-way performance in the Capitals’ 4-3 win over TB.

He scored 2 goals, 2 assists and had an 88% xGF% at 5v5.

Here are his most notable puck touches and plays from last night. #AllCaps #NHLPotN pic.twitter.com/dKLuw5QNOX

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) April 7, 2022

Carlson’s second goal of the game and on the power play set a new career-high in goals with the man-advantage (six), having tied his previous best set in the 2013-14 season with his first goal of the season. Carlson now has 13 goals and 46 assists for 59 points in 66 Games Played this season.

four points and a thunder poke for the win pic.twitter.com/LvmsOiTrq1

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 7, 2022

By Michael Fleetwood

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