Lightning 4, Capitals 2
Steven Stamkos scored a power-play goal to snap a tie late in the second period as the Tampa Bay Lightning skated to a 4-2 road victory over the Washington Capitals on Friday in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Steve Downie collected a goal and an assist, Sean Bergenheim recorded his fourth tally in five games and Dominic Moore sealed it with an empty-net goal as fifth-seeded Tampa Bay improved to 4-0 on the road. The teams will reconvene at the Verizon Center on Sunday for Game 2 of the series.
Dwayne Roloson turned aside 26 shots for the Lightning, who saw Simon Gagne leave the game midway through the first period with a head injury. Gagne was hit shoulder-to-shoulder by veteran defenseman Scott Hannan, but the force sent the 31-year-old Quebec native careening to the ice. Gagne, who has a history of concussions, did not return to the contest.
After Downie leveled the game at 2-2 with 3:43 remaining in the second period, Stamkos gave the Lightning the lead with their ninth power-play goal of the postseason.
With Jason Chimera in the penalty box for roughing, defenseman Eric Brewer skated along the wall before wristing a sharp-angle shot on net. Michal Neuvirth made the initial stop, but Stamkos alertly backhanded the loose puck into the net with 32 seconds remaining in the session.
Roloson did the rest as Tampa Bay won its fourth straight game.
Alexander Semin scored for the third straight contest, Eric Fehr also tallied and Neuvirth stopped 20 shots for top-seeded Washington, which went 0-for-5 on the power play and fell to 3-1 at home in the postseason.