Vincent Lecavalier scored at 6:19 of overtime to give the Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Lightning now lead the best-of-seven series 2-0, with Games 3 and 4 in Tampa on Tuesday and Wednesday night.
After fighting off another early surge by the Capitals and seeing Steve Downie denied on a 2-on-1, Tampa Bay won it in sudden fashion. Randy Jones, who was in the lineup as a result of Pavel Kubina’s injury, picked up the puck at his own goal line and banked a long pass off the boards to Teddy Purcell, catching the Capitals in a line change. Purcell moved in on a 2-on-1 and slipped a pass behind Mike Green to Lecavalier. The Lightning captain settled the puck as Neuvirth went down, then shot it over him to end the game.
Dwayne Roloson made 35 saves for the Lightning, who tied a franchise record with their fifth straight road playoff win. Lecavalier had two goals in the game, adding a power-play goal in the first period. Martin St. Louis had a goal and an assist, and Purcell’s second assist of the game sprung Lecavalier for the game-winner.
Brooks Laich and Alex Ovechkin scored for the Capitals, who are now squarely behind the 8-ball in this series.
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