The single toughest game of the Washington Capitals’ entire season did not disappoint. The Tampa Bay Lightning are a scary good team, but the tired Caps didn’t shrink from the challenge. This one’s a ride. Let’s go.
Lars Eller kicked off the scoring in the first period with a solo drive after Alex Killorn turned the puck over.
The Caps carried that lead into the second period, where everything went to hell (temporarily). Nikita Kucherov scored a power-play goal early in the period, then Steven Stamkos added another power-play goal a minute later. A total mess in front of the Caps’ net ended in an own goal credited to Anthony Cirelli. But wait! Carl Hagelin kept the third line white hot, then TJ Oshie worked for a power-play goal to tie the game. Kucherov notched a second goal as the Caps’ penalty kill panicked, restoring the Bolts’ lead.
Washington was relentless in the third period but could not beat Tampa goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy until Evgeny Kuznetsov threaded the needle to tie it and force overtime. The Caps played great in overtime, but Victor Hedman finished it.
Caps lose 5-4 in overtime.
Hagelin now has as many points as a Cap as he did on the season at the time of the trade.
— Japers' Rink 🏆 (@JapersRink) March 21, 2019
Caps beginning the Carlson for Norris campaigning pic.twitter.com/saTIUZYzqb
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) March 20, 2019
Tom Wilson appears to be having a pretty intense conversation with the Tampa Bay Lightning bench pic.twitter.com/XHYLXM6KX2
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) March 21, 2019
gahhh of the night
It stinks that this was a loss, but this was the most scheduled loss-y scheduled loss in the Caps’ calendar all year. And yet the Caps stepped up, putting forth one of their best offensive performances of the year.
This was an L on the stat sheet, but it was a statement as well. The Caps aren’t done yet. They’re ready to compete again.
Full RMNB Coverage of Caps at Lightning
Headline photo: Patrick McDermott
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