Photo: @lightning
The Washington Capitals fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning, 3-2 Monday night at Amalie Arena in Tampa. The loss drops the Capitals record to 5-1-3 (13 points) on the season, tied with the New York Rangers for second place in the Metropolitan Division, three standings points behind the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Capitals opened the scoring on Brett Leason’s first career NHL goal just 73 seconds into the contest. The Capitals held the lead after the first 20 minutes, 1-0. But the Lightning would respond with goals from Alex Kilorn and Anthony Cirelli in the middle frame to take a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.
Brayden Point would stretch the Lightning’s lead to 3-1 less than three minutes into the final frame. The Capitals would cut the lead to one goal with a power play tally from Conor Sheary midway through the final frame but were unable to tie the score as the Lightning held on for the 3-2 win.
GAME STATS
STARTERS
Vitek Vanecek (2-0-0-2, 2.26 GAA, .911 SV%) got the start between the pipes for the visiting Capitals. Andrei Vasilevskiy (4-2-0-1, 2.53 GAA, .911 SV%) got the start in goal for the Lightning. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals.
#Caps‘ lines/pairs:
8-Ovechkin, 92-Kuznetsov, 43-Wilson
39-Mantha, 24-McMichael, 10-Sprong
62-Hagelin, 20-Eller, 21-Hathaway
73-Sheary, 59-Protas, 49-Leason42-Fehervary, 74-Carlson
9-Orlov, 3-Jensen
57-van Riemsdyk, 2-SchultzVanecek vs. Vasilevskiy. #CapsBolts
— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) November 1, 2021
Scratches: Nicklas Backstrom (Injury), T.J. Oshie (Injury), Nic Dowd (Injury), Dennis Chowlowski, Matt Irwin and Hendrix Lapierre.
FIRST PERIOD
The Capitals opened the scoring with a goal from Brett Leason (1) just 73 seconds into the contest. Nick Jensen (2) had the lone assist. It was Leason’s first career NHL goal.
Oh yes Brett Leason! pic.twitter.com/Zm2XXhVepT
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 1, 2021
That would be all of the scoring in the first frame. The Lightning led in shot attempts 13-9 in the first frame. The Capitals led in scoring chances 6-3, and expected goals for percentage 66.14% to 33.86%.
SECOND PERIOD
The Lightning would tie the game on a goal from Alex Kilorn (7) at 3:18 of the middle frame. Anthony Cirelli (5) had the lone assist.
Killer instinct. pic.twitter.com/eRPgpWTK4T
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) November 2, 2021
The Lightning would take their first lead of the game with a power play goal from Anthony Cirelli (2) at 8:40 of the second period.
Power Play Tony: ACTIVATED 🚨 pic.twitter.com/sS6W2RqL6j
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) November 2, 2021
That would be all the scoring in the middle frame, as the Lightning led 2-1 after 40 minutes. The Lightning led in shots 12-10 in the middle frame. Scoring chances were 8-8 in the second period. The Lightning led in expected goals for 65.97% to 34.04%.
THIRD PERIOD
The Lightning would make it 3-1 with a breakaway goal from Brayden Point (4) just 2:56 into the final frame. Taylor Raddysh (1) and Anthony Cirelli (6) had the assists.
All gas, no brakes. pic.twitter.com/Dwpm0GT3wE
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) November 2, 2021
The Capitals would cut the Lightning lead to one with a power play goal from Conor Sheary (1) at 11:38 of the final frame. Evgeny Kuznetsov (8) and John Carlson (4) had the helpers.
Redirect beauty pic.twitter.com/ZbkAx3cVpy
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 2, 2021
The Lightning would hang on for the 3-2 win.
SHAVINGS
- The Capitals became the only team in the NHL to have three selections from the 2019 NHL Draft play in an NHL game for their team, and all three are in the lineup tonight (Protas, Connor McMichael and Brett Leason).
- Scored 1:13 into the game, Brett Leason’s goal marked the earliest goal scored in a game by Washington. Washington has additionally scored the game’s first goal seven times this season and hold a 4-0-2 record in games where they score first.
- Conor Sheary cut the Lightning’s lead to 3-2 with a power play goal, his first goal of the season. Sheary had one power play goal last season as well, scored on April 11 against Boston. Sheary has three points in his last four games (1g, 2a).
- Evgeny Kuznetsov picked up the primary assist on Sheary’s goal, his eighth assist in his ninth game this season.
Close game, not a lot to complain about considering the players we had out. Kids showed once again they belong.