Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
The Washington Capitals beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Capitals lead the series 1-0, with Game two is set for Sunday night.
The Caps opened the scoring with goals from Michal Kempny and Alex Ovechkin in the opening frame, to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. Jay Beagle and Lars Eller added early goals in the middle frame to make it 4-0 at the second intermission. The Lightning would get on the scoreboard early in the third period and add another tally midway through the third to make it 4-2, the final.
STARTERS
Braden Holtby (8-3, 2.04 GAA, .926 sv%) started between the pipes for the Capitals. Andrei Vasilevskiy (8-2, 2.20 GAA, .927 sv%) started in goal for the Lightning. The Capitals starting forward lines and defensive pairs for Game 1:
Forward lines:
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Vrana-Eller-Oshie
Burakovsky-Stephenson-Connolly
DSP-Beagle-Chiasson
Defensive pairs:
Kempny-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-Djoos
Scratches: Nicklas Backstrom (right hand), Travis Boyd, Nathan Walker, Shane Gersich, Madison Bowey, Pheonix Copley and Jakub Jerebek.
FIRST PERIOD
The Capitals opened the scoring with a goal from Michal Kempny at 7:28 of the opening frame. Evgeny Kuznetsov and John Carlson were credited with the assists.
Shots on goal were 5-1 Caps with 8:21 remaining in the opening frame.
Alex Ovechkin would give the Capitals a 2-0 lead with a power play goal off of the faceoff with 3 seconds left in the period.
The period would end with the Capitals leading 2-0. Shots on goal were 9-2 in favor of the Capitals. The Capitals were 1 for 1 and the Lightning 0 for 1 on the power play.
SECOND PERIOD
The Capitals would stretch their lead to 3-0 with a goal from Jay Beagle at 2:40 of the second period. Brett Connolly and Dmitry Orlov were credited with the helpers.
The Capitals would make it 4-0 with a power play goal from Lars Eller at 6:42 of the middle frame. T.J. Oshie and Alex Ovechkin were credited with the assists.
The period would end with the Capitals leading 4-0. The Capitals led in shots on goal 25-10 after two periods of play.
THIRD PERIOD
The Lightning replaced Andrei Vasilevskiy with Louis Domingue to start the third period. The Lightning would finally get on the scoreboard with a power play goal from Steven Stamkos at 3:45 of the final frame.
The Lightning would make it 4-2 with a goal from Ondrej Palat at 13:03 of the final frame.
And that would be the final.
SHAVINGS
- The Capitals scored four goals on their first 15 shots and held off a late rally to win Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final.
- Alex Ovechkin scored his 55th career postseason goal to pass Nicklas Lidstrom, Rick MacLeish and Steve Thomas (all w/ 54) for sole possession of 44th place on the NHL’s all-time list.
- The Capitals lead the NHL this postseason with 15 power play goals and have scored a power play goal in 11 of their 13 games in the playoffs.
- The Capitals improved to 6-1 on the road in the 2018 #StanleyCup Playoffs, outscoring opponents 24-15 in those contests.
- NHL box score is here.
SCENES FROM TAMPA