There is a reason why Andrei Vasilevskiy is a legitimate MVP candidate. The Lightning might have the most talented and deep offensive lineup in all of the NHL, but they still have some shortcomings on the defensive end. When those shortcomings rear their ugly head the Bolts’ goaltender usually comes through. That was certainly the case on Tuesday night. Brayden Point scored twice in the opening period and Tampa Bay jumped out to a 3-0 lead. The Lightning needed every one of those goals. The Capitals had the Lightning scrambling for pretty much the entire final 40 minutes. Vasilevskiy made save after save and when the Capitals cut the lead to a single goal Nikita Kucherov came through. Kucherov used his signature move to make it a multi-goal lead once again and halt all of Washington’s momentum in the 4-2 victory.
The Capitals gave the Lightning a great chance with very fresh legs. Dan Girardi got interfered with in the 1st minute of the game to put the Bolts on the power play. It came in the final seconds, but the Bolts cashed in on that chance. Brayden Point finished a fantastic pass from Ryan Callahan to put his team in front very early on. Both teams tightened up defensively after that, but the Bolts got going again late in the period. In about a 2-minute stretch the Lightning struck twice. Chris Kunitz deflected in an Andrej Sustr shot to make it 2-0 and then Brayden Point caught the Capitals sleeping and scored his 2nd of the game to make it a 3-goal game heading to the 2nd period.
Washington came out in the 2nd period eager to erase the memories of the opening stanza. Alex Ovechkin had some good chances, but wasn’t able to get the puck past Vasilevskiy. The Captials then got an opportunity on the power play and the Bolts’ penalty kill woes continued. Lars Eller scored just before the halfway mark of the period to start what the Capitals hoped would be a big comeback. Late in the period it looked like Washington would continue that comeback. Andrei Vasilevskiy wouldn’t let that happen. The Bolts goaltender continued his MVP worthy season by making at least 4 saves in the closing minutes to maintain the 2 goal lead heading to the final frame.
The Lightning penalty kill had to go to work early in the 3rd. The team probably played worse than they did when they allowed the goal in the 2nd, but Vasilevskiy was stout enough again to prevent Washington from really making a game of it. That didn’t last. Alex Ovechkin added to his league lead in goals with his 36th to make it a 1-goal game. The Lightning finally showed some fight after that. Kucherov got a breakaway and used the same move he used to score on Braden Holtby in the All Star game to get the lead back to 2 goals right away. A costly Washington penalty in the closing minutes really ended any chance that they could come back on Vasilevskiy and the Bolts.
The Bolts will continue this 3-game road trip on Thursday night. The Lightning will go from our nation’s capital to the capital of Canada. Tampa Bay will be in Ottawa to face the Senators. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7 pm with pregame coverage beginning 30 minutes prior on News Radio 970 WFLA.
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
1. TBL - PPG - Point - (Callahan, Gourde) - 2:30
2. TBL - Kunitz - (Sustr, Callahan) - 16:00
3. TBL - Point - (Stralman) - 17:52
2ND PERIOD
1. WSH - PPG - Eller - (Orlov, Connolly) - 9:32
3RD PERIOD
1. WSH - Ovechkin - (Niskanen) - 11:02
2. TBL - Kucherov - (Coburn) - 12:58
PENALTY SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
1. WSH - Connolly - (Interference) - 0:34
2ND PERIOD
1. TBL - Namestnikov - (Tripping) - 7:50
3RD PERIOD
1. TBL - Callahan - (Slashing) - 4:36
2. WSH - Orpik - (Cross Checking) - 17:41
SHOTS ON GOAL
Tampa Bay - 19
Washington - 37