The Washington Capitals will try to continue their en fuego start to the season with a victory against another tough opponent: the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Capitals will have pretty much the same lineup, minus Charlie Lindgren is returning to the net for his fourth start of the year.
The Lightning are 4-3-0 to start the season, good for third in the Atlantic Division. The team has six different point-per-game players, led by Nikita Kucherov with 13 points in 7 games (8g, 5a).
Some must-read RMNB content because you like good hockey content and we like pageviews:
- The Washington Capitals are off to their best start in nine years
- Capitals power play looking for solutions after scoring just two goals through six games: ‘We haven’t been generating nearly enough’
- The battle of McJesuses: Connor McMichael has the same amount of points as Connor McDavid early in the year
- Nothing guaranteed for Capitals prospects Zac Funk and Alex Suzdalev with Hershey Bears this season: ‘You have to earn your spot here’
- Dmitry Orlov may reportedly join Evgeny Kuznetsov in KHL after NHL contract expires next summer
Now that you’re done reading, let’s get to the game! Caps-Lightning is airing on Monumental Sports Network. Puck drop is shortly after 7 pm. Joe B and Locker have the call.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Tampa Bay Lightning
Tunnel Shenanigans
https://twtter.com/Capitals/status/1850309558712815724
1st Period
Puck is dropped.
Aliaksei Protas can’t finish on the breakaway as Vasilevskiy makes a huge pad save.
At intermission: The Capitals are outshooting the Lightning 8 to 7 and out-attempting them 18 to 16 at 5v5. Not many highlights in that first period, but the game was a bit of a track meet. Not sure that benefits the Caps but we’ll see.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
🚨 1-0 Tampa Bay Lightning. TBL Goal: Mitchell Chaffee (2). Assists: N. Paul (6), M. Eyssimont (1). Time: 03:49.
Nick Paul throws a hard shot on net wide open in the left circle after Pierre-Luc Dubois picks up his stick in the corner. Chaffee, set up in front of the net, gets a high tip and deflects it past Lindgren.
🥊 Brandon Duhaime vs. Emil Lilleberg. The two combatants drop the gloves after a battle in front of the net. Duhaime landed one punch that bowled over Lilleberg.
Alex Ovechkin with a soft cross-check to the back of Nikita Kucherov after the Lightning superstar playfully taps Charlie Lindgren in the glove.
Dubois beats Vasilevskiy cleanly and clangs a shot hard off the far post with 8:28 remaining in the period.
Dubois has two wide open attempts in the crease but Vasilevskiy denies both.
Hendrix Lapierre gives the biggest snow shower I’ve ever seen in my life to Vasilevskiy, huge scrum occurs. Tampa Bay to the power play.
At intermission: The Capitals are outshooting the Lightning 24 to 15 and out-attempting them 44 to 37 at 5v5.
3rd Period
🚨 2-0 Tampa Bay Lightning. TBL Goal: Brayden Point (5). Assists: N. Kucherov (6). Time: 02:26.
A nice passing-play down low gives Point his 5th of the year.
🚨 3-0 Tampa Bay Lightning. TBL Goal: Conor Geekie (1). Assists: A. Cirelli (9), B. Hagel (4). Time: 03:10.
Conor Geekie scores his first NHL goal. A one-timer scoar in the slot.
In awe of this Spencer Carbery suit pic.twitter.com/1o88feE2ch
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) October 26, 2024
Lightning win 3-0, marking Vasilevskiy’s first career shutout of the Caps. Washington outshot Tampa 31 to 20 and out-attempted them 59 to 48 at 5v5.
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