The Washington Capitals beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-0 Friday night at Verizon Center. The win raised the Capitals record to 20-8-4. The Capitals next travel to Brooklyn to visit the Islanders this Tuesday night at Barclays Center. Puck drop is 7:00PM. 

Braden Holtby got the start between the pipes for the Capitals. Andrei Vasilevskiy got the start in net for the Lightning. Vasilevskiy also played in last nights game for the Lightning.

Brett Connolly got the start in place of Daniel Winnik on the 4th line. Taylor Chorney got the start in place of Nate Schmidt on the third defensive pair. Zach Sanford was a healthy scratch.The lines for the game:

#Caps lines: 8-92-14, 90-19-77, 13-20-65, 10-83-43. Defense: 27-74, 9-2, 44-4. Scratches: 26, 82, 88. Holtby vs Vasliveskiy. #CapsBolts

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) December 23, 2016

QUICK TAKES

• John Carlson notched two goals in the first period, his 2nd and 3rd of the season.
• The Capitals penalty kill allowed 0 shots on the first two power plays for Tampa Bay.
• The Caps outshot the Lightning 10-2 in the first period.
• The Lightning, who played the previous night, showed all the signs of a tired team.
• Braden Holtby notched his 3rd shut out of the season.

FIRST PERIOD
The Capitals wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard as John Carlson blasted one from the point just 55 seconds into the contest. This was Carlson’s second goal of the season.

Less than a minute into the game and John Carlson finds the back of the net! #CapsHolidayParty #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/Acc1pKOpEN

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 24, 2016

The Lightning’s Tyler Johnson would be called for hooking at the 3:08 mark of the opening frame, but the Caps were unable to dent the twine. Jay Beagle would be called for interference at 5:49, giving the Lightning their first power play of the game but the Caps would shut down the Bolts man advantage, and allow 0 shots on goal. The Bolts would return to the power play at 10:48 when Andre Burakovsky was called for tripping, but again the Caps penalty would allow 0 shots. John Carlson would give the Caps a 2-0 lead on another blast from the point, his second of the period.

Carlson x2! #CapsHolidayParty#RockTheRedpic.twitter.com/64fjobmRNW

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 24, 2016

The period would end with the Capitals leading 2-0. The Caps also led in shots on goal 10-2 for the opening frame.

Bolts first shot came at 13:36 mark of frame, and from 76 feet away. Second shot came in last minute, from 49 feet. #CapsBolts

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) December 24, 2016

SECOND PERIOD
The Lightning started the second stanza with an offensive surge, keeping the puck in the Caps zone for a majority of the first five minutes. The Caps began to even up the zone times around the 8:00 mark of the middle frame. Alex Ovechkin would stretch the Capitals lead to 3-0 on a one on none break away at 10:48 of the middle frame.

Ovechkin’s 15th goal of the season on an amazing pass from Dmitry Orlov. Ovechkin now at 990 career points. #CapsHolidayParty#RockTheRedpic.twitter.com/8edKDcveWO

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 24, 2016

The Capitals would head to the power play with 1:08 left in the second period, but the period would end without any additional scoring. The Caps led 3-0 after two periods of play. The Caps led in shots on goal 10-9 for the second period and 20-11 through two periods of play.

THIRD PERIOD
The Lightning were the benefactors of the period’s first power play at 6:25 when Marcus Johansson was called for interference, but it would be Marcus Johansson who would find the back of the net, a break-away “shortie” at 8:33 of the final frame.

The Lightning would pull starting goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy after the Johansson goal. Kristers Gudlevskis replaced him. That would be all the scoring as the Caps held on to the 4-0 victory.

By Jon Sorensen
Follow @NoVa_Caps

SCENES FROM VERIZON CENTER

#Festivus Feats of Strength @Capitals! #CapsHolidayParty #RockTheRed #CapsBolts pic.twitter.com/YZRoiW4HBe

— Alex Plaxen (@APlaxen) December 24, 2016

Your #WillOverSkill Robe goes to @JohnCarlson74! #CapsBolts #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/u7R7hXsHNy

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 24, 2016