3. ROLE REVERSAL
In recent weeks, the Lightning have controlled play for the majority of contests only to see the result not go their way due to a mental mistake or a momentary lapse in play.
On Saturday, the opposite seemed to be occurring.
The Lightning were not happy with their play through the first two periods. Washington held the edge in puck possession and shot disparity through two periods, the Caps holding a 29-13 advantage in shots. But the Bolts weren't giving up too many high-quality scoring chances to the Caps and were quick to pounce on rebounds or loose pucks in the zone. Conversely, the Lightning were getting the puck in the offensive zone but weren't able to do much with it once there, often their chances one-and-done before the Caps were right back on the attack.
"I don't think the first two periods were to our standards," Hedman said. "I think we got skating better in the third. It's just tough things are going against us as of late…Today we weren't at our best but we were still in it after two periods and able to tie the game. Good opportunity on the 5-on-3, obviously want to score there but that's part of the game."
The Lightning were hanging around, and McElhinney did his best to keep the deficit at a goal to keep the Bolts within striking distance.
And when Kucherov pounced on an opportunity midway through the third, it seemed as if the Lightning might finally get a result to go their way in a game where maybe they didn't deserve one.
The failures on the power play and Orlov's game-winner snuffed that out though, and the Bolts have now lost two straight as they head into a crucial matchup Monday against the Florida Panthers, a game the Lightning need to win to swing a bit of momentum their way as they go into a four-day break.
"We've played (Washington) twice before and games have been well played both ends, even game, this one for two periods really wasn't," Cooper said. "Disappointing because they played last night, and we didn't. Like I said, we fought back in the third, we had a chance to win and at least get a point out of the game and we didn't. They're a good team. That's the reason they have the record they have is they can find ways to win and we aren't."