Coming off an emotional and physical seven-game series less than 48 hours ago, one could have expected a letdown from the Tampa Bay Lightning in game one of the next series. Losing one of their top six forwards midway through the first period and left with 10 forwards? One could have expected a let down the rest of the game.

All of those scenarios played out for the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night except for one. There was no letdown. The Bolts opened the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs with a 4-2 victory over the Washington Capitals, earning their fourth straight win on the road, and in the process, stealing home ice from the team that won the Southeast Division.

The Lightning got off to a great start in this one, as Sean Bergenheim scored less than three minutes into the game on a scramble in front in the net. For Bergenheim, it was his 4th goal of the postseason.

The Capitals answered right back on a play the Lightning wished they could have back. Brett Clark, seemingly in control, turned the puck over in the slot, right to Alexander Semin, who put a wrist shot on goal that beat Lightning goaltender Dwayne Roloson to tie the score at one. Both the goal and the turnover are plays that probably never should have happened.

A scary moment at the end of the first: Simon Gagne was hit hard on the corner boards; replays appeared to show that the back of his head hit the ice. Gagne stayed down and they brought the stretcher out, but he would leave under his own power; he did not return for the Lightning.

This article appears in Apr 28 – May 4, 2011.