WASHINGTON – Andrei Vasilevskiy’s 32-save effort anchored the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 2-1 shootout victory against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Saturday. The win marks the Lightning’s third consecutive triumph, showcasing their resilience and skill in close contests.
Luke Glendening scored for Tampa Bay (17-13-5), and Victor Hedman netted the decisive goal in the fourth round of the shootout. “Beating good teams like Washington is a sign of our strength,” said Lightning coach Jon Cooper.
Anthony Mantha was the lone scorer for the Capitals (17-9-5), while goalie Charlie Lindgren made 19 saves. Despite the loss, Washington coach Spencer Carbery remained optimistic. “We have been playing well and have the potential to reach even higher levels,” he said.
The Lightning opened the scoring with Glendening deflecting Hedman’s shot in the first period. The Capitals equalized in the second period through Mantha, who deflected Nick Jensen’s slap shot. Mantha expressed his determination to rebound from last season’s struggles. “I’m focused on making a significant impact this year,” he said.
Jensen’s potential goal was overturned after Tampa Bay’s successful offside challenge, keeping the game tightly contested. “It was a tough game against a solid Capitals team,” Cooper added.
Lindgren made a critical save late in the third period to keep the score level. “Lindgren’s save was crucial in keeping us in the game,” Carbery said. In overtime, Vasilevskiy stopped Connor McMichael’s close-range effort, setting the stage for the shootout.
Hedman, on a four-game point streak with six assists, played a pivotal role for Tampa Bay. “It was a close game against a team similar to us in the standings, and we’re pleased to take the two points,” Hedman said.
In roster moves, the Lightning’s Conor Sheary, returning to Capital One Arena for the first time since joining Tampa Bay, played 10:23 and was plus-1. Postgame, the Capitals assigned forwards Ivan Miroshnichenko and Hendrix Lapierre to the AHL’s Hershey Bears.
For Tampa Bay, this win underlines their capability to grind out victories, while Washington will look to maintain their positive form and capitalize on their opportunities in future games.
