The Tampa Bay Lightning were only a minute and eight seconds away from stealing Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals from the Washington Capitals. But maybe justice has been served for now. Alex Ovechkin roofed a loose puck in front of the net over Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson with 1:08 left in regulation, tying the game at 2 and sending the two teams into overtime.
The Capitals have significantly outplayed the Lightning in this game, but they were in position to lose it after Mike Green deflected a Martin St. Louis shot into his own net at 7:35 of the third period. Tampa Bay locked down Washington for most of the third period, only allowing three shots until the Lightning were called for icing with 1:43 left.
As a result of the icing, the Lightning were unable to complete a line change and had to leave the same five players on the ice. Lightning coach Guy Boucher called a timeout to give them some rest, but it allowed Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau to pull goalie Michal Neuvirth and put six of his best offensive players on the ice together in a bid to tie the game. It paid off when a puck came out in front of the net to a waiting, unchecked Ovechkin, who popped it up over Dwayne Roloson and into the net.
Washington won two overtime games in their first-round series against the New York Rangers, while the Lightning lost Game 4 against Pittsburgh in double overtime. This is the third playoff overtime game between the two teams; the Lightning won the first two, both in 2003 and both at the Verizon Center.