Tampa Bay, FLA – Tampa Bay advanced to their first Eastern Conference final since 2004 on Wednesday night, as they swept aside the Washington Capitals in their second round clash with a 5-3 win at the St. Pete’s Times Forum.
The top seed Capitals had no answer for the surging Bolts as Dwayne Roloson stopped 33 shots and Sean Bergenheim lit the lamp twice to wrap up a 4-0 series win for Guy Boucher’s team.
Lightning GM Steve Yzerman must surely be pinching himself now after giving Boucher his first NHL Head Coaches job this year and then acquiring 41-year old Roloson from the New York Islanders in January as both men have excelled during the post season.
Ryan Malone gave the home side an early lead with a powerplay goal mid way through the opening period. A late goal from Marc Sturm tied things up before the first break, a rare goal with the man advantage against a Lightning penalty kill that has repelled almost everything that has been thrown at it during the play-offs thus far.
But the Caps joy was short lived.
Bergenheim grabbed his sixth and seventh goals of the post season to open up a 3-1 lead, and while John Erskine did pull one back for Bruce Boudreau’s side a minute later the door was soon shut on the Caps as Roloson stood firm.
Marc Andre Bergeron restored the Lighting’s two goal lead five minutes in to the final period before veteran winger Martin St Louis really kicked the Bolts fans celebrations in to gear with his sixth goal of the play-offs.
Young D man John Carlson grabbed a late consolation marker for the Caps but it was scant reward as yet another post season campaign came up short for the men in DC.
Contact the author: rob.mcgregor@prohockeynews.com
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