The extended time off did not make Martin St. Louis look any older.

St. Louis had two goals including the go-ahead score five minutes into the third period and the Lightning celebrated the return of NHL action with a 6-3 win over Washington at the Times Forum Saturday.

Three of Tampa Bay's goals came on the power play. The St. Louis winner was a 5-on-3 when he blasted one from straight on.

Washington had three early power-play opportunities as the Lightning were a little sloppy, but only gained one more chance the rest of the way. Tampa Bay ended up 3-for-7, and also finished with a 34-30 shot advantage after the Caps held a 17-8 lead through 20 minutes.

Eric Brewer also had two goals after getting one all of last season. His second goal almost got credited to St. Louis for the hat trick, ast it was a blast that St. Louis came close to deflecting with 3:18 remaining.

Cory Conacher made it 5-3 with his first NHL goal on a 3-on-1. Vinny Lecavalier had Tampa Bay's other score, making it 2-1 less than 10 minutes into the game.

It was 3-3 entering the third after Washington got a goal from Wojtek Wolski with 1:45 before intermission.

Anders Lindback got the win in net.

Brewer made it look like scoring was no big deal, a simple wrister making it 1-0 at the 6:24 mark of the game before Joel Ward converted the first of his two goals for Washington. Lecavalier's goal came just moments after he had rung a shot off the post and the 2-1 lead held until Ward's tally two minutes into the second period.

Lecavalier fed St. Louis in close for a 3-2 lead three minutes later.