Photo from before the game by @theunemployedmom
Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom is one of the league’s best at distributing the puck. Playing against Tampa Bay on Tuesday, Backstrom authored one of his most brilliant passes ever. Or maybe it was a redirect. I’m not even sure what to call this; it was just subtle and awesome.
The Tampa Bay Lightning scored a garbage goal with three seconds left in the game to make it 4-3. Jon Cooper called time out. The Lightning kept their net empty. That wasn’t wise.
Nicklas Backstrom won the face-off, which Alex Ovechkin immediately shot into the net with under a half second left.
Screen: @myregularface
The Washington Capitals came in like a wrecking ball to Amelie Arena, beating the beast of the east Tampa Bay Lightning in convincing fashion for the team’s third straight win.
Alex Ovechkin scored 40 seconds in, tapping in a pass from Tom Wilson. Brian Boyle, who must love playing against the Caps, tied it up later that period, but Matt Niskanen’s power-play marker restored the Cap lead before the intermission.
Steven Stamkos scored a tricky one from the slot to knot it up in the second, but Brooks Laich’s hardscrabble effort put the Caps up again before the third period.
The Bolts looked fierce in the third, but Troy Brouwer put ’em in a two-goal hole with an even-strength wrister midway through. The Lightning got a goal in garbage time, but then Ovi also got one in garbage time and I give up.
Caps beat Bolts 5-3! Flawless road trip! Let’s dance.
By Peter Hassett 5 years ago
Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson took a lot of punishment in the first period against Tampa. Willy Baby drew three minor penalties from the Lightning after absorbing several brutal cheap shots, including two punches to the head at center ice and one headfirst boarding.
In typical Willy Baby style, he remained undaunted. He laughed off the Lightning’s feeble attempts to injure him. If my lip-reading skills are still passable, I’m pretty sure he wanted to punch someone multiple times in the face.
For the first time in his career this season, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has endured a five-game pointless streak. Coming into tonight’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Ovechkin had not dented the twine in four straight games.
That unluckiness is now over. Ovechkin has scored his team-leading 13th (oh god) goal of the year. And it only took 40 seconds.
The Washington Capitals have won three in a row just once this season– from November 7 to 11. Suiting up in Tampa tonight against one of the best teams in the league, the Caps will have a chance to go for three again. It won’t be easy.
Catch us at 7:30 PM as we follow along, begging quietly for some top-line offense. Game’s on CSN, so Joe B better be wearing something pretty for me.
| Team | Record | Possession | PDO | Power Play | Penalty Kill |
| Washington Capitals | 12-10-4 | 51.7% | 99.0 | 28.2% | 75.3% |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 18-7-3 | 54.8% | 101.3 | 22.7% | 80.4% |
By Peter Hassett 5 years ago
