Call it a Comeback: Caps Beat Bolts 5-3

December 18, 2015 10:33 pm

Photo: Patrick McDermott

The Tampa Bay Lightning dropped by Verizon Center for the final game of the season between these former division foes. In honor of this year’s omnibus, the stuff happening process was stalled until the very end of first session, with just two shots in the game’s first 10 minutes. Tampa got on the board first on a weird goal by Alex Killorn after Braden Holtby ended up somewhere in Delaware. The Caps pressed near the end of the frame, with Alex Ovechkin launching shot after shot to no avail.

In the second, Andrej Sustr, which is not a drunk text, got on the board for the first time in 106 games with a laser of a shot from the far circle. Steven Stamkos added another bullet from the slot just over two minutes later, sending Braden Holtby to Sasstown.

The Capitals rallied after Philipp Grubauer entered the game in relief with TJ Oshie putting the Caps within one with an unassisted tally just with just over 12 minutes left. Alex Ovechkin then scored again, which made lots of people happy. Marcus Johansson then made lots of people extremely happy. Oshie added an ENG. Five unanswered goals. Perhaps the wildest win of the year. Sublime. Caps beat Bolts 5-3!

Alex Ovechkin was ridiculous in the first period, throwing an amazing 12 shots towards the net. Approximately 150 percent of those shots hit Ryan Callahan in the crotch on a late period power play. Ovi had a plus-seven shot attempt differential. No one else on the team was above two.
He also scored, which sometimes happens when you let Ovi shoot at a wide open net. Career goal 490.
Last year, Ovechkin had 14 two-goal games. Against the Lightning, he notched his first of 2015-16, with a silky, slippy snipe with 10 minutes left. Career goal 491. It was good.
Braden Holtby is the best goaltender in the NHL right now, but I’ll blame him for Tampa’s first goal. When your defense breaks down, you probably shouldn’t play goal from the slot. The next two goals weren’t soft, but Braden got the hook after 28 minutes and 57 seconds. He was super zen about it, kicking his helmet down the tunnel. Good riddance since that stupid thing keeps coming off his head. That was the first time the Capitals have pulled a goalie this season.
Six days ago, the Tampa Bay Lightning had four shots on goal against the Capitals in one minute and 45 seconds. They had two in the first 19 minutes of Friday’s game. There is no why.
John Carlson and the third line got hosed at even strength. Like clockwork.
TJ Oshie‘s individual skill shined through in marvelous ways. He had a brilliant assist on Ovechkin’s first goal, a thrilling snipe that sparked the comeback in the third, the primary apple on Marcus Johansson’s game-winner, and the cherry at the end.
Nick Backstrom got his 600th point on Oshie’s empty netter. Meh.
The Capitals have the second best power play in the league, which means you should not take silly penalties against them. The Lightning took silly penalties. The Capitals scored three power play goals. They won.