Streak-Ender Boyle and Bishop

Tampa, Fla. — A quick five hole shot by #11 Brian Boyle in the shootout and #30 Ben Bishop stoning #90 Marcus Johansson the night’s final shooter is exactly what the Lightning needed to end this losing streak.

The Lightning needed a win in the most crucial way, as crucial as early season December could handle.   After winning four in a row in mid November, the Lightning went into tonight’s game losing four in a row and five of their last six.  Also an overnight trip to Carolina with a 5pm Sunday start on the itinerary looked the Lightning in the face.

This was the first time the Capitals and Lighting have played this year and going back to last year, the Capitals won all three match-ups.

The Bolts were the first on the power play, with #19 Nicklas Backstrom committing a two-minute minor high sticking penalty against Tyler Johnson. It was an unsuccessful two minutes, as Braden Holtby was able to block all three shots that were thrown at him.

Fan favorite #8 Alexander Ovechkin gave the Bolts their second chance on the man advantage at about the ten minute mark in the first period. The Washington captain committed a tripping penalty and took a seat for two minutes to spectate. Unfortunately not a lot of puck movement for the Lightning on the power play, and the score remained 0-0.

Two Lightning power plays and eleven shots and eight for the Capitals the first period was ore or less uneventful.

A lot of life in the second period, both teams were skating hard to the puck and the corners. Both goalies were standing their ground, the Bolts started heating up the shot count, and at 12:38 in the second a power play goal was notched by #86 Nikita Kucherov. It was Kucherov’s thirteenth goal of the season, with the assist from none other than #77 Victor Hedman. The Bolts took the lead 1-0 which they took into the second intermission locker-room.

This game seemed to be played as even as a one-goal game could get. With 14:18 left in the third the shots were locked at 22.

The tying goal came on the man advantage when #19 Nicklas Backstrom rifled a shot past #30 Ben Bishop from the right circle.   The time of the goal was 6:24 assisted by #74 John Carrlson and #90 Marcus Johansson.   The Capitals were threatening on the three previous power play attempts and it was surprising it took this long.

The game had a playoff score with a lackluster exhibition feel.  There was the feeling someone needed to step up and make some kind of play.  That would not happen in regulation.  In overtime the Lightning made it exciting by giving Washington a power play for a most obvious two many men on the ice penalty with 0:34 left.   The Lightning held on the 4 on 3 to get to the shootout.

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1st Period Summary
Time	Team	Scoring Detail	WSH	TB
No scoring this period			0	0
Time	Team	Penalty Detail
4:07		Nicklas Backstrom: 2 Minutes for High-sticking Tyler Johnson
8:58		Alex Ovechkin: 2 Minutes for Tripping Victor Hedman
2nd Period Summary
Time	Team	Scoring Detail	WSH	TB
12:38		Nikita Kucherov (13) (Power Play) Assists: Victor Hedman, Jonathan Drouin	0	1
Time	Team	Penalty Detail
1:16		Alex Killorn: 2 Minutes for Hooking Evgeny Kuznetsov
11:49		Alex Ovechkin: 2 Minutes for Slashing Victor Hedman
14:45		Cedric Paquette: 2 Minutes for High-sticking Lars Eller
17:09		Valtteri Filppula: 2 Minutes for Interference of Brett Connolly
3rd Period Summary
Time	Team	Scoring Detail	WSH	TB
6:24		Nicklas Backstrom (7) (Power Play) Assists: Marcus Johansson, John Carlson	1	1
Time	Team	Penalty Detail
5:42		Braydon Coburn: 2 Minutes for High-sticking John Carlson
10:19		Andrej Sustr: 2 Minutes for Hooking Jay Beagle
OT Summary
Time	Team	Scoring Detail	WSH	TB
No scoring this period			1	1
Time	Team	Penalty Detail
4:26		2 Minute Bench Penalty for Too Many Men on the Ice (Served by Nikita Kucherov)
Shootout Summary
Team	Detail		WAS	TAM
	Shootout attempt by Jonathan Drouin saved by Braden Holtby		0	0
	Shootout GOAL scored by Evgeny Kuznetsov on Ben Bishop		1	0
	Shootout GOAL scored by Brayden Point on Braden Holtby		1	1
	Shootout attempt by Nicklas Backstrom saved by Ben Bishop		1	1
	Shootout attempt by Nikita Kucherov saved by Braden Holtby		1	1
	Shootout attempt by Alex Ovechkin saved by Ben Bishop		1	1
	Shootout GOAL scored by Brian Boyle on Braden Holtby		1	2
	Shootout attempt by Marcus Johansson MISSES		1	2