Lightning Vs. Capitals: Tampa Falls In Washington In A Shootout

In a thrilling opening week game at the Verizon Center, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals needed extra time to decide an amazing division matchup. Jason Chimera tied the game for Washington with just under three minutes to to send it to the extra period.

Chimera bookended the 3rd period with goals for the Caps, putting them ahead to start the period and then evening it up after two Lightning goals pushed Tampa in front with 7 minutes to play. Nate Thompson and Brett Clark scored for Tampa in the third.

In overtime, four-on-four became three-on-three for fifty seconds when Alexander Semin hooked Dominic Moore to join Tampa’s Marc-Andre Bergeron in the penalty box. The Lightning could not capitalize on the final 50 seconds of the power play when Bergeron was released from the box. They were given a gift from the Caps, however, who incurred a too-many-men on the ice bench penalty, giving the Bolts an extra man for the final 50 seconds of OT. Once again, Tampa could not take advantage of the extra man as the overtime period ended in a 5-5 tie.

The Lightning would lose on penalty shots when Nate Thompson and Dominic Moore had Tampa’s first two attempts smothered by Tomas Vokoun. Matt Hendricks would connect for the Caps on a crafty pump fake that Dwyane Roloson bit on and Alexander Semin would finish it off for Washington on their third penatly shot. Roloson would finish with 38 saves on 43 attempts as the Lightning fell to 1-1-1 in this opening week.

Lightning Vs. Capitals: Tampa Bay Tied With Washington, 3-3, After Two Periods

After two periods at the Verizon Center in downtown Washington, DC, the Lightning and Capitals are tied at 3-3. The Caps will begin the 3rd period with just under a minute left on the power play, which will only continue the fast-paced, exciting first 40 minutes played on Monday night.

The first period saw four quick goals to open the game. The Bolts got on the board first when Teddy Purcell scored just 2:22 into the game. Bruno Gervais added the Lightning’s second goal of the night, putting Tampa back on top after Marcus Johansson matched Purcell’s strike. Dennis Wideman would even it back up for the Caps with just over three minutes left in the first.

The second period picked up the scoring-pace right away, when Tampa’s Dominic Moore put the Lightning back on top 3-2 just 56 seconds into the period. Troy Brouwer would pull the Caps back to even less than three minutes later. The scoring would then subside for the period as each team failed to take advantage of the power play.

Ryan Malone’s high-sticking penalty will put the Lightning a man down for the first 53 seconds of the third period.

Lightning Vs. Capitals: Tampa Bay Visits D.C. In Playoffs Rematch

The Lightning swept the Capitals out of last season's playoffs. Will their dominance continue Monday night in Washington?