Holtby allowed three goals on 12 shots not quite halfway through the contest. But even when they aren’t scoring, they’re pulling out wins thanks to solid play all across the ice. They fell behind 3-0 midway through the second period but scored the game’s final five goals – including four in the third period – and the three extra-man goals proved crucial.
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As we mentioned previously, the Tampa Bay Lightning came into this game like they meant business. “We give them some life on the power play… and it’s just the same story in this building _ the power play finds a way to beat us”.
The Capitals scored 6:11 left in the second period on a power play.
“We talked about playing a little bit more heavy, ” Oshie said.
“If we beat them in the special teams wars”, Cooper said, “I think we’ve got a chance”. We talked about turning that around and trying to get [a goal] in the first 10 [minutes of the third period], and go from there. Holtby was taken out of play after the third goal scored by the Lightning.
The Capitals Nicklas Backstrom earned his 600th career point with an assist on Oshie’s final goal.
Washington finished 3 for 4 on the power play, taking advantage of the Lightnings extremely weak defense when down a man. Two of the third-period goals came in those situations as the Lightning could not stop the Capitals in the offensive zone or clear the puck.
Senators 4, Sharks 2: OTTAWA, Ontario – Bobby Ryan had a goal and an assist, Craig Anderson made 31 saves and Ottawa got its fourth straight home win.
Captain Steven Stamkos had given Tampa Bay a 3-0 lead in the second, snapping a 10-game goal drought, his longest since going 11 without one as a rookie in 2008. At that point, the Capitals pulled Braden Holtby for Grubauer, who stopped all seven shots he faced, including a stunning save that energized the Caps. Buoyed by Friday night’s incredible comeback, it’s second in both power play goals (25) and percentage (25 percent), behind just the Boston Bruins in both categories.
The Ottawa Senators scored four unanswered goals en route to a 4-2 win over the San Jose Sharks at Canadian Tire Centre.
3-Point Goals_Brooklyn 8-16 (Johnson 3-4, Jack 3-6, Ellington 1-2, Bogdanovic 1-3, Brown 0-1), IN 7-28 (G.Hill 3-7, George 2-6, Miles 2-8, Stuckey 0-1, Ellis 0-3, Budinger 0-3).
Winnipeg also got goals from blue liners Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers, as well as Ladd on the empty net.
This victory improved Eastern Conference-leading Washington to 23-6-2 and 46 points, both franchise records for the start of a season.
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“I was exhausted of our team leaving him out to dry”, Trotz said. His match penalty for a hit on Ottawa F Curtis Lazar on Wednesday night was rescinded Friday by the National Hockey League…. Trotz recently warned that those maintenance days would become more common for players at this point of the season. “I told him just make sure you’re within the rules… and player safety is paramount.”…
