The Tampa Bay Lightning (16-4-2) could not get it done at the Capital One Arena Friday night, falling to the Washington Capitals (13-10-1) by a score of 3-1.
For a team that wound up being the contest's loser, the Bolts sure started things off on the right foot. Vladislav Namestnikov found the back of the net for his tenth goal of the season, giving Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead 1:22 into the game. Nikita Kucherov added to his season point total providing the primary assist and giving him 34 points through 22 games. Victor Hedman was awarded the secondary assist, giving him 15 so far.
Unfortunately for the Lightning, that was all she wrote on the scoresheet for the rest of the game. The rest of the game belonged to the Capitals and it all started with Alex Ovechkin late in the opening period.
Washington's captain lit the lamp for his 15th goal of the season and moved up the NHL's all-time goal-scoring ranks. With last night's goal, Ovechkin is now tied for 21st all-time with Mike Bossy, each recording 573. The next player for Ovi to catch up to is Mark Recchi who had 577 in his career.
The Capitals would receive the go-ahead goal from Devante Smith-Pelly at 14:36 of the second period. Washington would then keep its go-a-period pace going in the third when Jay Beagle potted an empty-netter to give Washington a 3-1 lead.
Although three goals were allowed in his net, Andrei Vasilevskiy still put together a pretty decent effort between the pipes. He stopped 35 of the 37 shots and one of Wahington's goals was while the net was empty. Vasilevskiy's teammates could just not provide him with any sort of offense.
To put it simply, the Lightning were just not the better team last night, a rarity so far this season. Of course, games like this are bound to happen, even for the top teams in the league.
Tampa will not have to wait long to turn things around however as they take on the struggling Penguins in Pittsburgh tonight. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET.