For the second time in just over a week, it was a battle for first place in the Southeast Division when the Washington Capitals took on the Tampa Bay Lightning Wednesday night at the St. Pete Times Forum. And for the second time in just over a week, the Tampa Bay Lightning held the Capitals off the scoreboard, this time beating them 3-0 to move into first place all by themselves in the Southeast Division.
The game would get off to a fast start for the Lightning when Dominic Moore was able to score on a Nate Thompson rebound to put the Lightning ahead 1-0. The goal at the 3:58 mark of the first period was Moore's 8th goal of the year, with the assists going to Nate Thompson and Dwayne Roloson, his second assist of the year. The Lightning would extend the lead to 2-0 when Sean Bergenhiem, playing his first game since returning with from the flu, batted home a mid air rebound off of a Victor Hedman shot from the point to extend the lead to 2-0. For Bergenheim, the goal at the 16:04 mark was his 8th goal of the year.
Into the second period, the Lightning had the chance to extend the lead when they had an extended 5-3 powerplay, but Washington goalie Semyon Varlamov made numerous point blank saves to keep the game within striking distance for the Capitals. That was until late in the second when the Lightning had a 2-0 breakaway from center ice on, with Simon Gagne calling his own number, finally ending his goalscoring drought with his 4th goal of the year to give the Lightning a 3-0 lead. It was a huge goal at the time, taking away any chance the Capitals had of really mounting a comeback, considering they were on the second half of a back to back.
The story in this game would be about how the Lightning dominated the pace of play and the game in general. They played a physical game that the Capitals had trouble responding too, and where able to dictate how the game would be played. They also got key saves from Dwayne Roloson, for his second shutout in as many games against the Capitals.
"We just want to play our game." Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman said. "It was a good bounce back game for us. We just need to keep going here, we have New Jersey coming in here on Friday. its going to be a tough game, we want to beat those guys. We just lost to those guys a couple games ago. We are ready for them, we want to have a good practice tomorrow and be ready to go on Friday."
For Lightning coach Guy Boucher, it was the rest that made the difference tonight.
"I think defensively and offensively, we played a very solid game." Boucher said. "The one thing we noticed lately is that we have been traveled out. I felt it, the players felt it, we were pushing, but we needed a day off. I think getting that day off and having a short practice yesterday, and no morning skate this morning, and getting a bit of rest showed in our jump. We were a lot more aggressive on our forecheck, a lot more aggressive on the the puck and I think we did a great job of putting a lot of pressure in front of their net.
The Lightning will have a chance to return the favor of the blowout loss to New Jersey when the Devils come into the St Pete Times Forum this Friday. Game time is at 7:30.
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This article appears in Jan 13-19, 2011.