Lightning open season by defeating Capitals, 6-3

Eric Brewer scored more goals Saturday night than he did all last season.

Brewer and Martin St. Louis each scored twice as the Tampa Bay Lightning delighted a sellout crowd of 19,204 on opening night by defeating the Washington Capitals 6-3.

Brewer, who scored once all last season, opened the scoring 6:24 into the game and finished it with 3:18 remaining. St. Louis added an assist, and Vincent Lecavalier and Cory Conacher scored goals for the Lightning.

Joel Ward scored twice, and Wojtek Wolski had a goal for the Capitals, who lost in Adam Oates' NHL coaching debut.

St. Louis broke a 3-3 tie at 4:47 of the third period when he beat Braden Holtby with a shot from above the left circle during a 5-on-3 power play. Conacher, who also had an assist in first NHL game, finished off a pass from Teddy Purcell at 13:24 for his first goal to extend the lead to 5-3.

Newcomer Anders Lindback stopped 27 shots for the Lightning. Holtby finished with 28 saves.