The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - It took 11 seasons for the Tampa Bay Lightning to win a playoff series, so they didn't care if it took a few extra overtimes.

Martin St. Louis scored his fifth goal of the series on a power play 4:03 into the third overtime Sunday to give the Lightning a 2-1 victory over the Washington Capitals.

The Lightning, after dropping the first two games at home, won four straight to win the best-of-7 series and advance in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

"It's been a long time coming, no question," Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella said. "There's been some lean years out there. We're hoping we continue to go. You never know how far you're going in the playoffs, but you need to come back and do it again, and that's how you solidify your organization.

"We don't want this to be a one-year thing - or a one-series thing."

In Tampa Bay's only previous postseason appearance, it lost 4-2 to Philadelphia in 1996. The third-seeded Lightning will play No. 2 New Jersey in the second round.

St. Louis scored on a power play after the Caps were whistled for too many men. St. Louis took Vincent Lecavalier's pass behind the net, circled to the right of the crease and put the shot above Olaf Kolzig's glove. "We were fortunate," Tortorella said. "A power play at that time of the game, when both teams are so very tired, it's definitely an advantage."

The culprit was defenseman Jason Doig, who hopped off the bench too soon and found the puck at his stick. It was a tough blow for a team that lost Game 3 - when leading the series 2-0 - on a 5-on-3 overtime power play.

Washington failed to meet owner Ted Leonsis' goal of winning a playoff series, despite the huge investment he's made in Jaromir Jagr and other high-paid players.

Nikolai Khabibulin, inconsistent early in the series, was outstanding in OT and finished with 60 saves for the Lightning. Kolzig had 44.

Tampa Bay's Dave Andreychuk sent the game to overtime with a power-play goal with 4:06 remaining in regulation. Peter Bondra scored during a second-period power play for the Capitals.

Canucks 4, Blues 3

ST. LOUIS - The first-round playoff series between St. Louis and Vancouver has quickly gone from lopsided to a toss-up.

Markus Naslund had a goal and two assists as the Canucks staved off elimination for the second straight game to force a decisive Game 7 in the playoff series.

"We made it hard on ourselves in the third period," Canucks center Trevor Linden said. "But all in all we did what we wanted to do and what we wanted to have, and that's an opportunity for a Game 7."

Whoever wins Tuesday's game in Vancouver will play the winner of the series between Colorado and Minnesota. "We're a confident team, we are," said Blues center Doug Weight, who had two goals and an assist. "We believe we're the better team right now and we've got to go prove it."

At a glance

Saturday's games

Philadelphia 4, Toronto 1; Flyers lead series 3-2

Minnesota 3, Colorado 2; Avalanche lead series 3-2

Dallas 3, Edmonton 2; Stars win series 4-2

Sunday's games

Tampa Bay 2, Washington 1, 3OT; Lightning win series 4-2

Vancouver 4, St. Louis 3; series tied 3-3

Today's games

Philadelphia at Toronto, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Colorado at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)