Tampa Bay Lightning double-up Washington Capitals, 4-2: NHL Play-off Recap
Steven Stamkos lit the lamp with the go-ahead goal in the middle period, as the Tampa Bay Lightning held on for a 4-2 victory against the Washington Capitals in Game 1 of their Eastern
Conference semi-final series, at the Verizon Centre on Friday night.
Steve Downie netted a goal and had an assist while Sean Bergenheim and Dominic Moore both also hit the net for Tampa Bay, which outlasted the Pittsburgh Penguins in the opening round after
falling behind, 3-1, in the best-of-seven series and is struggling to advance to the conference finals for the first time since winning the Stanley Cup in 2004
Dwayne Roloson turned away 26 shots in the winning effort.
"The Capitals still had their chances, they hit a couple posts," said Moore. "Tonight was anyone's game, we just got the bounce. I thought they should have buried us but Roloson kept us
alive."
Eric Fehr and Alexander Semin both found the back of the net for Washington, which defeated the New York Rangers in five games in the quarter-finals. Michal Neuvirth turned aside 20-of-23
shots in the set-back.
The Lightning got the scoring of the game started just over two minutes into the opening period, when Downie carried the puck hard to the net from the low left side and unleashed a shot
that was saved. But, a rebound popped out in front and Bergenheim was able to knock it home.
However, the Capitals pulled it even at 1-1 just less than two minutes later. The play was set up by Marco Sturm, who stole the puck during a weak clearing attempt by the Lightning through
the middle and slipped it to Semin, who fired a wrist shot from the slot that trickled past Roloson.
Washington almost got the lead with 6 ½ minutes remaining in the first period, when Brooks Laich grabbed the puck into the net from the left side, but a video review confirmed that he
kicked the puck into the net and the goal was waived-off.
The Capitals, though, went on top, 2-1, just less than two minutes into the second period. The goal came when Marcus Johansson won the left circle face-off and swept the puck ahead for
Jason Chimera, who drifted through the defence and centred the puck to Fehr and jammed it into the net with a one- timer.
The Lightning knotted it at 2-2 with less than four minutes to play in the second period. After the Capitals’ turnover, Downie attempted to centre the puck from the low left side, but
his puck redirected off defenseman Scott Hannan's stick and trickled over Neuvirth's right shoulder.
Tampa Bay notched a 3-2 edge on a power-play with 31 seconds remaining in the second period. The goal was set up by Eric Brewer, who brought the puck from the left point to the low left
side and tipped it to the front, where Stamkos buried it home.
The Lightning's defence did its job in the third period to secure the lead as it allowed the Capitals to just five shots in the third period and killed off a power-play after Teddy Purcell
was whistled for hooking with six minutes left.
"The Lightning makes it frustrating. They just hang back," said Capitals head Coach Bruce Boudreau. "You're trying to push and they are very good at it. That's why when they get a lead
they hold on to it."
Moore finally sealed the win at 4-2 with an empty-net goal in the last minute of the game.
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