Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images

For the last few games, the Capitals have had the full compliment of their intended lineup this season and while it took a few games, the team’s chemistry has begun to work. Nowhere in their Saturday night contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning was that more apparent than in the early part of the third period, when the team’s bottom-six forward corps combined to go back-to-back on the scoreboard.

The team’s third-line combined to the Capitals a 2-1 lead just 1:58 into the final frame, when Lars Eller converted after a beautiful passing sequence from first defenseman Dmitry Orlov and then Richard Panik for his seventh goal of the season. The assist was Panik’s first in a Caps sweater.

One Pass Two Pass GOAL! 🐯 pic.twitter.com/R8GZ97uffp

— Washington ☃️ Capitals (@Capitals) December 15, 2019

Offseason signing Garnet Hathaway would net his fifth of the season just 45 seconds after Eller’s tally, on a nice dish from Brendan Leipsic (defenseman Radko Gudas was credited with the secondary assist) to give the Caps a 3-1 lead at the 2:42 mark of the third period.

1. If you can dream it you can do it
2. Never ever give up pic.twitter.com/lFAFS61fo3

— Washington ☃️ Capitals (@Capitals) December 15, 2019

Hathaway’s goal just 45 seconds after Eller’s marked the sixth time the Caps have scored twice within 60 seconds of each other.

Garnet Hathaway scores 45 seconds after Eller’s goal to extend the Capitals lead to 3-1. It marks the sixth time this season Washington has scored two goals within one minute of one another.

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 15, 2019

By Michael Fleetwood