It has been a week since the Washington Capitals have played a meaningful game and they looked like that early on against the Tampa Bay Lightning as both teams looked a little sloppy. Yet, they saved the best for last.
The Caps and Bolts traded goals 1:55 apart at the end of the first period as they are tied at 1-1 after 20 minutes.
Matt Hendricks gave the Caps a 1-0 lead at 16:55. Dennis Wideman attempted to send the puck to Brooks Laich along the boards, but the latter got tied up. The puck, however, did not as it squirted free in the Caps' offensive zone. Laich hustled and dove for the loose puck, sweeping it towards Hendricks. Hendricks whiffed on his initial wrist shot, but corralled it, and sent a turnaround backhand shot to the net that beat Mathieu Garon top shelf for his second goal of the season.
Less than two minutes later, Teddy Purcell tied the game at 1-1 when Steve Downie, off a feed from Steven Stamkos, held the puck long enough to send a pass to Purcell in the crease. Purcell was able to fend off Mathieu Perreault and beat Tomas Vokoun. It was Purcell's 13th goal of the season.
Shots are 10-8 in favor of Tampa Bay.