Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green will have a disciplinary hearing with the NHL Friday to discuss his hit on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brett Connolly.
After going down 2-1 in the second period to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Washington Capitals were able to rally back and tie the game in the third period on a Marcus Johansson goal, assisted by Dennis Wideman with just under four minutes left in the game. Neither team could break the tie in the third period, so the game headed into overtime.
The momentum was with the Caps in the overtime period as Alex Ovechkin broke the tie with a goal and won the game for the Caps in the final minute of the game. With the win, the Capitals break their three-game losing streak to pick up a much needed win at home before they get ready to take a long road trip.
Malone scored his 12th goal of the season at 7:25. With Dennis Wideman in the penalty box for boarding, the Lightning struck when Malone deflected Steven Stamkos' centering pass past Tomas Vokoun with his skate. Referees reviewed the goal to make sure there was no distinct kicking motion, but the call stood.
Purcell added one at 18:42 when his shot deflected off of John Carlson's skate and into the net.
The biggest play of the period was an uncalled penalty. Midway through the period, Mike Green hit Brett Connolly in the head with his elbow/forearm while the latter was tied up with Dmitry Orlov along the end boards. Connolly went to the locker room after leaving under his own power. A hearing with the league may be imminent.
It has been a tale of two goalies so far at Verizon Center Thursday as the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning, but the former struck first as the Caps lead 1-0 after 20 minutes.
After quite the goalie deal between Tomas Vokoun and Dustin Tokarski, making his first career NHL start, Keith Aucoin broke through with his second goal of the season at 17:08. Karl Alxner fired a slap shot from the point that Aucoin somehow deflected; Aucoin was being harassed in front of the goal by a Lightning defenseman, but somehow was able to get his stick on Alzner's shot and deflect it past Tokarski (12 saves).
Meanwhile, Vokoun has made 15 big saves of his own, scrambling and flailing in the crease on several occasions to make those saves throughout the period. Tampa Bay has controlled puck possession, so Vokoun has been the Caps' best players thus far.
