Playoff Round 2 Game #2 Recap: Caps 2 Tampa Bay 3 (OT)

The Washington Capitals have dug themselves a deep hole with an overtime loss in Game #2. The Lightning scored at 6:19 of the extra session to take a 3-2 win and a 2-0 lead in the series. The Capitals will have to win 4 of the next 5 games to advance to the next round with Games 3 and 4 in Tampa this Tuesday and Wednesday.

The game opened with a back and forth first period that saw the Capitals and Lightning trading power play chances the Caps went 0 for 3 and Lightning struck on their second chance with less than a minute remaining in the period. The play in the second period was controlled by Washington and the home team finally broke through with a goal from Brooks Laich who crashed the net and knocked a rebound into the net to tie the game at 1-1. This followed 3 more failed power play attempts from the Capitals. In the frame Washington put 16 shots on goal but came away with only 1 goal. Tampa retook the lead mid-way through the third period after the Lightning got the Capitals defense scrambling around their own zone and a centering pass deflected off Mike Green's skate into the net. The Capitals fought back in the final ten minutes and, with the goalie pulled, Alex Ovechkin score the tying goal with 1:08 remaining in regulation.

In the overtime session the Capitals came out strong but failed to connect on several scoring opportunities. They out shot Tampa 5-3 in the extra period but a bad line change led to a 2-on-1 chance that doomed the boys in red. The Capitals showed they have the heart and the ability to win these games but their Achilles heel has been their power play performance. So far in the series the Caps are 0 for 11. If they have any hopes to advance they need to improve this area of their game. If Tampa is going to give us 5.5 chances they need to pay. This will be the difference in Game #3.

Of Note:

• For the second game in a row, Michal Neuvirth stopped 20 of 23 shots and took the loss. I don't think either loss was a product of his play. It will be interesting to see if Head Coach Bruce Boudreau will make ay changes in the net with the back-to-back games in Tampa.
• Alex Ovechkin was kept pretty much in check for most of the game but scored the big goal when it mattered. After a failed clear from the Tampa defense, Ovechkin went to the front of the net and and was in perfect position to tie the game with regulation time running out.
• The defense blocked 21 Tampa shots with 5 Capitals defenders blocking 3 each. The Caps have averaged 20 blocked shots in the 7 playoff games played.
• Brooks Laich got his first goal of the post season to with his 5 assists. His 6 points are good for second on the team in these playoffs.
• The Capitals out shot the Lightning 37 to 23 and lead the series 35 to 47. Unfortunately, they have scored 2 of fewer goals in 5 of the 7 games they have played in the post season.
• John Erskine, Brooks Laich, Nicklas Backstrom and Jason Arnott each had an assist for the Caps.

Official Recap
Game Summary
Event Summary

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