Will Vragovi | Times

The Washington Capitals fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 on Saturday night at Amalie Arena in Tampa. The loss dropped the Capitals record to 13-7-3. The Capitals will have off on Sunday before hosting the Buffalo Sabres Monday night at Verizon Center. Puck drop is 7:00PM. 

Braden Holtby got the start between the pipes for the Capitals. Ben Bishop got the start for the Lightning.

TJ Oshie missed his 6th straight game after sustaining an upper body injury against the Red Wings on November 18th.

Taylor Choney and Daniel Winnik were the healthy scratches for this contest.

The Capitals were 5th in the Metropolitan Division standings coming into the game.

QUICK NOTES

• The Capitals offensive struggles continue.
• The Capitals power play showed signs of life, scoring a power play goal in the third period, but going just 1 for 6 on the man advantage for the game.
• Alex Ovechkin continues to struggle, and has been called for 4 penalties in the last two games.
• Evgeny Kuznetsov continues to struggle, but did score a goal in the shootout.
• The Capitals penalty kill was called upon twice in the first period, and shutdown the leagues second-best power play on both occasions. The PK would allow a PP goal in the second period.
• Once again, Braden Holtby‘s level of play kept the Caps in this game.

FIRST PERIOD
The Lightning held an advantage in 5-on-5 play through the first ten minutes of play. Nicklas Backstrom was called for high sticking at 4:07 of the first period, giving the Lightning, the league’s second best power play, the game’s first power play. The Lightning had good zone time, with several scoring chances, but the Caps penalty kill would successfully clear the zone three times, and ultimately stymie the Bolts man-advantage.

Alex Ovechkin would be whistled for the game’s second penalty, tripping, at 8:58 of the opening frame. This was Ovechkin’s third penalty in the last four periods of play. Once again, the Capitals penalty kill would shut down the Lightning’s power play. The Lightning continued to hold the advantage in offensive zone time for the second half of the first period, but could not find the back of the net. The first period would end tied 0-0. The Lightning led 11-8 in shots on goal.

SECOND PERIOD
The Capitals would get their first power play at the 1:16 mark of the middle frame. Once again, the Capitals would do very little with the man-advantage, and could not capitalize, stretching their power play scoreless streak to 0-11 in the last three games. The Lightning once again held the advantage in offensive zone time early in the second period. Alex Ovechkin was whistled for slashing at 11:49 of the second period, giving the Lightning their third power play of the game, and this one would cost the Caps. Nikita Kucherov would blast one from the top of the right circle for the game’s first goal.

What did we do to deserve Nikita Kucherov? #WSHvsTBL pic.twitter.com/jahT7qeqBn

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) December 4, 2016

The Capitals would return to the power play with 5:15 left in the middle frame. The Caps would show much better pressure on the attack, but once again could not convert. As the penalty expired the Lightning would be called for another penalty, sending the Caps back to the power play with 2:51 left in the middle frame. This man-advantage would revert to old ways and mount very little in the way of offensive pressure. The failed man-advantage raised the Capitals power play drought to 0-13 for the last three games. The period would end with the Lightning leading 1-0. The Capitals led in shots on goal 11-7 for the second period.

THIRD PERIOD
A spirited start to the third period for the Capitals. The Capitals would go on their fourth power play of the game at the 5:42 mark of the final frame. The drought was over. Nicklas Backstrom would snipe a beauty from the top of the right dot to tie the game at 6:24 of the third period. This was the Capitals first goal in the last 109 min 40 seconds of play, and the first power play goal in the last 14 man-advantages.

🚨 Nicky with a wrister on the PP. #CapsBolts on @csnmapic.twitter.com/SJXoi2uryB

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 4, 2016

The Capitals would return to the power play at the 10:19 mark of the final frame, but the Caps could not capitalize on the man-advantage. The period would end with the game tied 1-1. The Capitals led in shots on goal 12-10 for the final frame.

OVERTIME
3-on-3 overtime would go scoreless, sending the game to a shootout. The Lightning would win it in the shootout. Evgeny Kuznetsov would score the only shootout goal for the Capitals.

By Jon Sorensen

SCENES FROM TAMPA

In Tampa and ready to #RocktheRed !!! Let’s go @Capitals! pic.twitter.com/vWfPVHfSQ9

— Jessica Frick (@renewabelle) December 3, 2016

it’s hockey night in Tampa, see you soon @Capitals! time to head to Amalie #LetsGoCaps pic.twitter.com/Xh9HvLu5qA

— Jimmy Taylor (@jimmytaylor75) December 3, 2016

In Tampa CAPS pic.twitter.com/mZDsymYHWy

— jan (@jfrutiger) December 3, 2016