The Tampa Bay Lightning (2-1-0) defeated the Washington Capitals (1-0-1) 2-1 in overtime on Saturday evening in Washington, DC. With fifteen seconds to go in overtime, captain Steven Stamkos netted the goal that lifted the Bolts to a victory and avoided a shootout.
Perhaps worrisome for the Lightning is that star forward Nikita Kucherov left the game midway through the third period with an apparent lower body injury, the severity of which is unknown. After the game Lightning coach Jon Cooper said it was to early to know the severity of the injury, and that Kucherov would be evaluated when they returned home to Tampa on Saturday night.
Alex Ovechkin got the game's first goal late in the second period to give Washington a 1-0 lead. At the 4:23 mark in the third, Mikhail Sergachev scored to tie the game. That would be the only scoring until Stamkos finished the game with his goal in overtime.
Andrei Vasilevskiy got the win in net, saving 25 of 26 shots against. Vitek Vanecek went 22-for-24 in net for Washington and took the loss.
The Lightning return home to take on the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night. Puck drop from Amalie Arena Tuesday is scheduled for 7:00 PM - pregame coverage begins at 6:00 PM on News Radio WFLA.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES