The Washington Capitals once again came close to winning their third game of the Eastern Conference Finals, but in the end lost yet another home fixture in this year’s playoffs, falling 4-2 to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Four. As the saying goes, close is only good in horseshoes and hand grenades.
The Caps out-shot the Lightning 38 to 20 and out-attempted them at five-on-five 45 to 39.
By Chris Cerullo 6 years ago
All the Washington Capitals had to do was win one game at home to take a commanding 3-1 series lead against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final.
Instead, the Caps lost both games at home. Alex Ovechkin, who had 12 shots but no goals during the two home games, was not happy about it.
After winning two on the road, the Washington Capitals have now lost two at home, dropping Game Four – and also the series lead – to the Tampa Bay Lightning in a thoroughly frustrating night.
Dmitry Orlov kicked us off with a monster shot to beat Vasilevskiy high. Brayden Point struck back, exploiting a bad turnover from Michal Kempny, then Steven Stamkos kept Tampa’s power play nuclear hot to give the Bolts the lead after one.
Evgeny Kuznetsov was the hatchet man on a 200-foot play to tie the game in the second period, which the Caps dominated without any further goals.
The Caps kept pressing in the third until Lars Eller got busted for a hook. As time expired on his penalty, Alex Killorn put the puck through Holtby’s five hole to get a lead for the road team that survived to the final buzzer. Cirelli added an empty netter in garbage time.
Bolts beat Caps 4-2. The series is tied 2-2.
By Peter Hassett 6 years ago
Not all heroes wear capes. Sometimes they wear a Caps jersey, have glass-side seats, and have unmatched camera awareness.
During the second period, Pierre McGuire conducted a TV interview with Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper on the Bolts bench. I’m sure Cooper said some very smart things, but I didn’t absorb a single thing he was saying. Instead, I was entranced by the Capitals fan sitting directly behind him.
During a shift in the second period, there were two huge bodychecks. Both were clean, completely legal, and huge.
They both involved TJ Oshie.
With a 200-foot, four-man effort, the Washington Capitals have tied Game Four. The final touch on this very pretty sequence belonged to Evgeny Kuznetsov.
Score early, score often. The Washington Capitals have the first part done with a beaut of a goal by Dmitry Orlov in the opening five minutes of Game Four.
Get ready for this cannon.
