With the Series Tied at 2, the Capitals Must Get Back on Track For Game 5 in Tampa

Photo: NHL/Getty Images

After taking control of the series early, the Washington Capitals did not deliver during their 2-game home stretch. The Lightning have struck even in the series, and now the the Eastern Conference Finals shifts back to Tampa for Game 5 on Saturday night. Puck drop is at 7:15 on NBC.

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

The Lightning have crawled back into the series, and their powerplay is a big reason for it. In Game 4, they went ½ on the powerplay, as Steven Stamkos tallied once again. Stamkos has recorded 7 goals in this postseason.

Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point have been lighting up the scoresheet for the Lightning too. They have each tallied 7 goals and 16 points in the postseason, which is tied with Stamkos.

The unsung hero for the Lightning in Game 4 was Alex Killorn. Killorn scored his 5^th goal of the postseason, and the 20^th playoff goal of his career. Killorn is not one of the Lightning’s star players, but he is a player that scores those big goals in clutch moments.

Andrei Vasilevskiy is coming off back-to-back 36 save performances against the Capitals. He has settled into this series, despite facing a lot of Capitals shots.

WASHINGTON CAPITALS

The Capitals are heading back to Tampa on a low note. After playing well in the first two games, they have slipped up and let the series become tied.

The Capitals have struggled on special teams in this series. The powerplay was not very good in Game 4, as it went 0/4 in the game. The Capitals powerplay also went 0/3 in Game 3.

The good news for the Capitals is that Nicklas Backstrom returned for Game 4. He did not record any points in the game.

The Capitals top line has still been on fire. Evgeny Kuznetsov tallied his 10^th goal of the postseason, and Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson tallied a couple of helpers. Kuznetsov is leading the way for the Capitals in the postseason, as he has recorded 10 goals and 21 points.

The Capitals need to find a way to get their special teams on track. It has become a major difference in this series. The Capitals need to limit their penalties taken, so Tampa’s dangerous powerplay cannot see the ice.

SHAVINGS

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Nicklas Backstrom was happy to be back. He was significantly less happy about the power play’s 0 for 4 performance in Game 4. #Caps #CapsBolts #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/2wlTFNLepF

— Tarik El-Bashir⌨🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) May 18, 2018

By: George Foussekis