The Washington Capitals held on to eighth place in the NHL's Eastern Conference after a thrilling 4-3 win over Tampa Bay on Friday.
Troy Brouwer was the hero for the Capitals, with the 26-year-old right wing scoring his first career hat-trick to get his side over the line.
Washington shot out of the blocks, with two goals inside the first six minutes - from Alex Ovechkin and Brouwer - helping them to a 2-0 lead at the end of the first period.
Brouwer scored his second five minutes and 25 seconds into the second to make it 3-0, but the Lightning came storming back into the contest with goals from Tom Pyatt and Steven Samkos making it a one-goal game.
Brouwer's third with a minute to go sealed the win for Washington, ensuring Vincent Lecavalier's goal with 11 seconds to play was no more than a consolation.
The win meant Washington held on to eighth place in the Eastern Conference, but the Pittsburgh Penguins are breathing down their neck after posting a 4-1 victory over the Florida Panthers to break a six-game losing streak.
Goals from Steve Sullivan, Evgeni Malkin, Tyler Kennedy and James Neal powered Pittsburgh to the win, and gave them a season record of 22-17-4.
With both Pittsburgh and Washington locked on 48 points, the Capitals hold onto eighth place by virtue of their higher number of games won, with a 23-17-2 record.
Elsewhere on Friday, the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2, with Jason Pominville scoring the decider 14 minutes into the second period, while the Columbus Blue Jackets held off a fast-finishing Phoenix to notch up a 4-3 win.
And two goals from Teemu Selanne helped the Anaheim Ducks to a 5-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.