The Tampa Bay Lightning owned the first few minutes of Saturday night’s game with the Capitals, but a turnover by Ondrej Palat helped Nicklas Backstrom on his way to scoring the game’s first goal.
Forcing that turnover? Ya boy, Alex Ovechkin.
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The Caps were on the heels for the first five minutes of the game, but a strong shift by the fourth line turned the tide. The Backstrom line kept the momentum going as Ovechkin attacked behind the Bolts net. There he got Palat to serve the puck up the slot, which is precisely where Backstrom was waiting.
The reason why the Lightning are kinda bad this season in one GIF pic.twitter.com/nURfgrYDs4
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) December 15, 2019
The goal was unassisted.
Up in the stands, Anders Backstrom, Nicky’s dad, gave an air high-five to the fathers of Evgeny Kuznetsov and Ilya Samsonov.
Anders Backstrom (bottom left) sent an air high five to Evgeny Kuznetsov's and Ilya Samsonov's dads after his son scored pic.twitter.com/lSlNkRINRE
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) December 15, 2019
Anders sat beside Braden Holtby’s dad Greg.
Nicklas Backstrom and Braden Holtby are the Capitals' two major unrestricted free agents after this season. Their papas are sitting together in what could be their last Dad's Trip together. pic.twitter.com/mEZnAfOPL8
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) December 15, 2019
Backstrom now has six goals in 26 games this season. He’s scored two goals since returning from injury three games ago. He is five points shy of 900 for his career (237g, 658a).
Backstrom now has 61 points in 51 career games against the Lightning, the most he’s scored against a single franchise.
Backstrom has now recorded 61 points (14g, 47a) in 51 career games against Tampa Bay, the most points he has against a single franchise.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 15, 2019
Not bad.
Full RMNB Coverage of Caps at Lightning
Headline photo: NBC Sports Washington
