NHL Recap Roundup (Part IV)
Continued from part III
Washington Capitals lose 4-3 in overtime to resurgent Tampa Bay Lightning
Alex Ovechkin’s three game suspension did not seem to bother the Washington Capitals as they beat Boston Bruins, 5-3, entering the All-Star weekend, but as they faced their first game of the NHL, they missed their star striker a lot.
The Capitals stayed in the game thanks to goaltender, Tomas Vokoun’s heroics, yet Washington could not keep out a persistent Tampa Bay Lightning that won its fifth straight game.
Washington did well to come back into the game after going 3-1 down early in the second period.
Mathieu Perreault pegged back Lightning’s lead to a single goal and in the final period Troy Brouwer finished a move he started with aplomb to tie the score.
With the game going to overtime the home fans looked edgy as a Capitals comeback win looked on the cards but Tampa Bay calmed those fears two minutes into overtime as Steven Stamkos stepped up to score his 33rd goal of the season and win the
game for Tampa Bay.
Vokoun made 27-saves during the game as the Lightning outshot Washington 31-29 but could not keep Stamkos out in overtime.
"He played his heart out tonight," Brouwer said of Vokoun. "He played real well, but unfortunately, we couldn't get him a second point."
The Capitals remain third in the Eastern Conference with a 26-19-4 record while Tampa Bay’s fifth straight win moves them closer to a playoff spot and if they continue this run could well enter the race to make it to eighth in the Eastern Conference.
Nashville Predators make spectacular comeback to win 5-4 over Minnesota Wild
The Nashville Predators played out one of the most intense periods this season as a final period surge led them to a 5-4 victory over Minnesota Wild.
Minnesota ran out of the blocks in the first period ramping up a 2-0 lead in the first period through Dany Heatley who scored both Wild goals in a four minute scoring spree.
The Wild improved on that lead early in the second period with Cal Clutterbuck getting on the score sheet.
Nashville looked like they were still rusty after a long off weekend but finally woke up to score their first goal nine minutes into the second period to make it 3-1.
Kyle Brodziak’s goal 16 seconds in the final period made it 4-1 for Minnesota and the game looked all but over but Minnesota did not count on the Predators comeback ability.
The Predators shell shocked the home side in the final ten minutes with four goals leading Minnesota goaltender Josh Harding to express disbelief after the game.
"No way in 100 years should we have lost that game," Harding said.
Brandon Yip scored his first goal of the season to make it 4-2 at 9:22 and seven minutes later Patric Hornqvist beat Harding to make it 4-3.
Mike Fisher scored two goals in the final two minutes as Minnesota looked completely out of breath to make it 5-4 and give the Predators a brilliant away victory.
"It's someone different stepping up every night, and that's why we've been winning," Fisher said.
The win makes it five wins in a row for Nashville who move up to fourth in the Western Conference with a 31-16-4 record while Minnesota will now have to look over their shoulder as they are just one point ahead of the chasing Colorado Avalanche in the final
playoff spot.
To be Continued..
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