The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. - The smallest guy on the ice came up big again for Tampa Bay.

Martin St. Louis, listed generously at 5-foot-9, 181 pounds, had a goal and an assist Friday night as the Lightning beat the Washington Capitals 2-1 to take a 3-2 lead in their first-round playoff series.

"He's got the heart of a 6-foot-6 guy. You know what the players think of a guy like that," teammate Brad Lukowich said after Tampa Bay's third straight victory in the best-of-7 Eastern Conference matchup.

"He's invaluable. We don't look at him as a small guy. The way he plays, he has a big man's game."

St. Louis, a first-time All-Star this season, has teamed with Vincent Lecavalier and Vinny Prospal to score Tampa Bay's last nine goals - all four in Game 3, all three in Game 4 and both Friday night.

The Lightning, once a doormat franchise making its first postseason appearance in seven years, can win a series for the first time in the team's 11-season history by taking Game 6 Sunday afternoon in Washington.

"Obviously we're on a little high right now," St. Louis said. "You've got to calm down quick, because Sunday is going to come very fast. This is as big a win as anything experienced here. But there's a bigger one coming. That's the most important one."

St. Louis, who has four goals and three assists in the last three games, scored off a perfect pass from defenseman Stan Neckar to put the Lightning ahead for good with 8:07 remaining.

Canucks 5, Blues 3

VANCOUVER - Todd Bertuzzi and Brendan Morrison both scored their first goal of the playoffs, and Vancouver avoided elimination. Brent Sopel and Markus Naslund also scored as the Canucks' top line finally broke through. The Blues return to St. Louis for Sunday's Game 6 with a 3-2 lead in the first-round series. Game 7 would be Tuesday.

St. Louis' Martin Rucinsky scored with :55.5 left, but Sami Salo restored the two-goal cushion seven seconds later with a slap shot from the top of the circle.

Stanley Cup Playoffs

FIRST ROUND

(Best-of-7)

Friday's games

Tampa Bay 2, Washington 1 Lightning lead series 3-2

Vancouver 5, St. Louis 3 Blues lead series 3-2

Today's games

Toronto at Philadelphia, 3 p.m. Series tied 2-2

Minnesota at Colorado, 3 p.m. Avalanche lead series 3-1

Dallas at Edmonton, 8 p.m. Stars lead series 3-1