Through the first two games of the Eastern Conference Final, the Capitals have blown out Tampa Bay, outscoring the Lightning 10-4 on their home ice. During the Capitals 6-2 win during Game Two, Lightning fans bolted towards the exits with seven minutes remaining.
The Lightning’s local newspaper, the Tampa Bay Times, has not had happy headlines as a result.
Monday afternoon, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced that Capitals defenseman Michal Kempny was being fined $2,419.35 for cross-checking Cedric Paquette right in the kisser.
The Washington Capitals are flying back to DC and I wouldn’t be surprised if they had Britney Spears’ “Oops!… I Did It Again” blasting in the plane cabin. After Friday night, I don’t believe many thought the Caps would be able to match the type of effort that they displayed in Game One, but man they sure did with a 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Two.
The Capitals out-shot the Lightning 37 to 35 and out-attempted them at five-on-five 45 to 43.
By Chris Cerullo 4 years ago
Following the Capitals’ commanding 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Two, first star of the night Evgeny Kuznetsov answered several questions from Brian Boucher and he did not hold back one bit.
By Donya Abramo 4 years ago
The most viral story coming into the Eastern Conference Final had nothing to do with hockey.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are enforcing a dress code for approximately 10 percent of the Amalie Arena crowd at playoff games. Those fans, despite paying lots and lots of money for tickets, can’t wear an opposing team’s jersey or rock their colors. Here is the actual proof.
So as I watched Lightning fans and their sea of blue bolt towards the exits, it felt kind of like karma.
The Tampa Bay Lightning scored two power-play goals in the first period after officials whistled the Capitals for two questionable calls, giving the Bolts a 2-1 lead going into intermission. The Caps did not wilt or feel sorry for themselves. Instead, they came back with a vengeance.
Two minutes and fifty seconds into the second period, Alex Chiasson hit Devante Smith-Pelly to tie the game 2-2. The Capitals would later strike twice in the second period’s final minute-and-two-seconds to take a 4-2 lead into the break. The Lightning came out sluggish and defeated in the third period. The Capitals poured it on.
In total, the Capitals scored five unanswered goals after falling behind in the first period. This team is playing with confidence. It has a killer instinct and going for the jugular. This is beautiful hockey.
Everything could have gone wrong for the Washington Capitals in Game Two. With a couple brutal whistles gone against them early, each yielding a goal, one could understand (if not forgive) if they had put on their grumpypants and stomped their way to a loss. Instead, the Caps stuck to the script and delivered a compelling performance that wouldn’t be unfairly characterized as dominant. I can’t believe this actually happened. I can’t believe this is actually happening.
Tom Wilson scored on the first shift of the game, tipping in Matt Niskanen’s shot. Not long after, a couple suspect calls by the officials spotted Tampa two power plays, both of which were converted courtesy of Point and Stamkos.
In the second period, Devante Smith-Pelly scored a rush goal with a keen assist by Alex Chiasson to tie the game. Lars Eller put the Caps ahead with a net-front crash, then Evgeny Kuznetsov got a little help from the Bolts to get his centering pass into the back of the net just before the second period was over.
Evgeny Kuznetsov set up Alex Ovechkin for a back-breaking breakaway goal to make it 5-2 in the third. Brett Connolly put a wristshot behind Vasilevskiy to send Bolts fans, welp, bolting for the exits.
Caps beat Bolts 6-2! Caps lead the series 2-0!
By Peter Hassett 4 years ago
The Capitals’ fourth line has struck again for the second time in three games. Alex Chiasson connected with Devante Smith-Pelly to tie the game 2-2.
The goal was Smith-Pelly’s third goal of this year’s playoff run.
The Caps quickly lost their early lead after a pair of power-play goals from Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos. The goals themselves were pretty and well-earned by Tampa; the penalties that made them possible: not so much.
By Peter Hassett 4 years ago
Game Two of the Caps-Bolts series has scarcely begun and the Caps have already scored. On the very first shift of the game, Tom Wilson tipped a Matt Niskanen shot to give Washington a very early lead.
You guys, it only took 28 seconds for the Caps to score.
