8
0
After two subpar performances, the real Lightning showed up tonight.
TB-2
WSH-1 (OT)
Andrei Vasilevskiy allowed one goal on 33 shots for the victory. The one goal he allowed was not the best to surrender and he had to sweep a second howler off the line, so it was an imperfect win for Vasilevskiy despite the stat line. With that said, he was out at the top of the crease challenging shots and he was moving well and anticipating shots well. He got into Washington’s head a little with his movement on the penalty kill.
First Period
NO SCORING
Second Period
18:51 WSH Ovechkin (3), (VanRiemsdyk, Wilson)
Third Period
4:23 TB Sergachev (1), (Stamkos, Cernak)
Overtime
4:45 TB Stamkos (3), (Bellemare)
Vasilevskiy and Steven Stamkos were the game’s first and second stars.
The Lightning played that game the right way. They ended up with a 58.8% advantage on the Moneypuck deserve to win meter despite falling behind the eight ball with having to kill a 5-on-4 penalty late in regulation and a 4-on-3 in OT. This was one of those contests where the hockey gods didn’t allow for instant gratification and the team had to stay on their game and patient and they were eventually rewarded for it. It’s by far and away their best effort three games into the campaign and now comes an epic grudge match against the petulant little brother from downstate.
P.S. Steven Stamkos is playing like a MVP candidate three games in.
Boris Katchouk had 1 hit in 6:22 in his NHL debut.
Ross Colton had 2 penalty minutes and 1 blocked shot in 12:50. He was also 50% on 8 draws.
Box score and extended statistics from NHL.com.
