In each team’s first game in the round robin, the Tampa Bay Lighting overcame a furious rally from the Washington Capitals to grab a 3-2 win in a shoot out.
Nikita Kucherov andBrayden Point potted goals in the shoot out for the win.
“Happy with a lot of the things that happened in this game,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “It was unfortunate we had a two-goal lead and let it slide in a couple-minute span. But there’s a lot of good things to build off.”
Andrei Vasilevskiy made 31 saves through the extra session and stopped two of three shooters in the skills competition.
Richard Panik and Evgeny Kuznetsovscored for the Caps.
“To come from behind two goals vs. a very good skating team and we’re able to tie things up there, I just felt like as we got going we were finding our stride a little bit more and then eventually we were able to wear them down a little bit with our physical play,” Capitals head coach Todd Reirden said. “I thought the more we invested physically, then we were able to see some benefits of it.”
Kucherov and Mitchell Stephens scored in regulation for the Bolts.
“I thought we were in their face,” the Lightning’s Pat Maroon said. “That’s the kind of team we need to be, just kind of have that mentality to push back. … I thought we did a really good job of just staying in it, not getting frustrated when they were throwing big hits and responding at the right time.”
The Lightning take on the Boston Bruins next on Wednesday.
[WATCH: All Capitals vs. Lightning highlights]
Braden Holtby made 26 saves in the loss where the Caps picked up a standings point.
“We weren’t expecting perfection this game, but I think the important part is, the first part of periods they got some action and we didn’t panic,” Holtby said. “We righted the ship. I think that’s important. … They come in waves. They always have and you just weather the storm there and then wait for your opportunity to get in and be physical and grind them down and it showed in the two goals.”
The Caps will take on the Philadelphia Flyers this Thursday.
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