Mishkin: Lightning 2, Capitals 1 - SO

There were two important takeaways from this game. First and foremost, the Lightning banked two points and ended their four-game regulation losing streak. These were two points they desperately needed. Second, the Lightning defended well versus a dangerous opponent.
How were they able to defend so well and tighten up what had been a problem area in the past four contests? Everyone was committed to playing defense, meaning that they contested loose pucks. They took away shooting lanes - and blocked 15 Washington shots during the game. For most of the first two periods, their back pressure and gap control prevented the Caps from generating speed through the neutral zone and, as a result, the Lightning enjoyed the majority of the puck possession during that time. Then, after the Caps gained momentum from several consecutive power plays, the Lightning hung in there, battled and got the game to overtime.

The final shot attempts were 63-45 in favor of Washington, but those numbers are a bit misleading. Sometimes a shot attempt advantage can illustrate an advantage in flow of play, but I don't believe that was the case in this contest. The Capitals have a lethal power play - even though the Caps' power play has a percentage lower than usual to this point this season, it is still capable of scorching the opposition. Much of this Washington shot attempt advantage - and the Caps' more modest shot on goal edge (35-33) - was due to their six power play chances. Eleven of their 35 shots came on the power play and they had many other attempts that didn't reach the net. The critical part of all of those power play chances wasn't the number of shots attempted - it was that the Lightning only allowed one goal and were able to kill the other five infractions.
So I felt this game was fairly even. The Lightning had an advantage for most of the first two periods and grabbed a lead when Nikita Kucherov netted a power play goal during the team's third and final power play chance. But then, the Caps received back-to-back power plays late in the second. Even though the Caps didn't score on either of those chances, momentum shifted. That momentum surge continued after Nicklas Backstrom tied the game during an early third period power play. As a result, the Caps applied more pressure in the third than they had earlier in the game. But the Lightning kept the dangerous Washington scoring chances to a minimum - and killed two more penalties before the game reached the shootout. Thanks to goals from Brayden Point and Brian Boyle in the shootout, the Lightning were able to earn two points.
The Lightning felt their play was improving in the contest against St. Louis and deserved a better result than the one they got. In this game, they took another important step forward. Their solid defensive performance was a crucial component to this victory. One they'll need to repeat on Sunday in Carolina.
Lightning Radio Big Moment of the Game (as selected by Jassen Cullimore):
The Lightning's successful third period penalty kill after the Caps had tied the game on their previous power play chance.
Lightning Radio Three Stars of the Game (as selected by Jassen Cullimore):
1. Ben Bishop - Lightning. 34 saves.
2. Brian Boyle - Lightning. SO winner.
3. Evgeny Kuznetsov - Capitals. Solid all-around game.