For the first time in their history, the Tampa Bay Lightning have dropped a playoff game on Washington Capitals home ice as the Bolts fail to secure a slot in the Stanley Cup Finals losing 3-0 to the Capitals in game six of the Eastern Conference Final. The loss pushes the series to a defining game seven in Tampa on Wednesday night.
After a scoreless flurry of action by the two squads in which Washington outshot Tampa 8-6, the Capitals took advantage of the first power play chance they had in the game to take the lead in the second period. Following a Braydon Corburn hooking penalty the Capitals broke through as T.J. Oshie one timed a blast from right in front of Andrei Vasilevskiy to put Washington up 1-0. The one goal lead would take the two teams into the intermission as Washington was dominating every part of the game, but could only lead by one goal.
Washington broke through in the third following a big goal off a hustle play by the Capitals as the Lightning were buzzing around the net of Braden Holtby. Devante Smith-Pelly wristed the second goal of the game for Washington on a non icing call by the officials as the Capitals stole possession from Braydon Coburn and found Smith-Pelly charging at the net from the blue line.
The Capitals played out the remainder of the game with T.J. Ohsie adding an empty net goal as Holtby finished the game with 34 saves. Andrei Vasilevskiy stood tall once again for the Lightning with 21 saves, only this time in a loss.
The two teams will play in a game seven at Amalie Arena on Wednesday night in Tampa, FL. Face off is scheduled for just after 8:00pm and you can hear the game on 970AM WFLA.
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