Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
The Washington Capitals fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 Saturday night in Tampa. The Capitals’ loss gives the Lightning a 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. Game 6 is set for Monday night at Capital One Arena.
The Lightning scored just 19 seconds into the game and would add another midway through the period to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. The Lightning would add another goal just 33 seconds into the middle frame to make it 3-0. The Capitals would finally get on the scoreboard with a redirected goal from Evgeny Kuznetsov to make it 3-1 at the second intermission. Alex Ovechkin would score late in the third period to make it 3-2, and that would be the final.
STARTERS
Braden Holtby (10-5, 2.24 GAA, .917 sv%) started between the pipes for the Capitals. Andrei Vasilevskiy (10-4, 2.63 GAA, .918 sv%) started in goal for the Lightning. The Capitals starting forward lines and defensive pairs for Game 5:
Forward lines:
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Stephenson-Backstrom-Oshie
Vrana-Eller-Connolly
DSP-Beagle-Chiasson
Defensive Pairs:
Kempny-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-Djoos
Scratches: Andre Burakovsky, Madison Bowey, Jakub Jerabek, Shane Gersich, Travis Boyd Nathan Walker and Pheonix Copley.
FIRST PERIOD
The Lightning opened the scoring just 19 seconds into the contest with a goal from Cedric Paquette.
The Lightning would stretch their lead to 2-0 with a goal from Ondrej Palat at 9:04 of the opening frame.
The first period would end with the Lightning leading 2-0. Tampa Bay outshot Washington 13-4 for the first 20 minutes. The Capitals were 0 for 0 and the Lightning 0 for 1 on the man advantage. The Capitals won the faceoff battle 58-42%.
SECOND PERIOD
The Lightning would stretch their lead to 3-0 with a goal from Ryan Callahan just 33 seconds into the middle frame.
The Capitals would finally light the lamp with a redirected goal from Evgeny Kuznetsov at 4:21 of the second period. Matt Niskanen was credited with the lone assist.
The period would conclude with the Lightning leading 3-1. The Capitals outshot the Lightning 12-5 for the middle frame and trailed 18-16 after two periods of play. There were no penalties called in the second period. Tampa Bay led the faceoff battle 55-45% through two periods of play.
THIRD PERIOD
The teams skated to a scoreless draw for most of the third period before Alex Ovechkin dented the twine at 18:24 of the final frame, and that would be the final.
SHAVINGS
- Washington has fallen behind 3-0 last 2 of last 3 games.
- Capitals outshot the Lightning 30-22 for the game.
- The was one power play in the game (Lightning).
- The Lightning had zero penalty minutes in a game for only the seventh time in their franchise’s 26-year history and the first time since Nov 2015.
- Capitals won the faceoff battle 51-49%.
- Kuznetsov has 11 goals this postseason and 22 points (11g, 11a), a new franchise mark for points in a postseason.
- The last time Caps played a Game 6 at home facing elimination was in 2012 against the Rangers. They won 2-1 to stay alive.
- The NHL box score is here.
SCENES FROM TAMPA