Capitals extend Metropolitan Division lead with OT loss to Lightning

WASHINGTON -- Andrei Vasilevskiy made 54 saves, but the Washington Capitals extended their lead in the Metropolitan Division with a 5-4 overtime loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Capital One Arena on Wednesday.

Evgeny Kuznetsov's 100th NHL goal tied the game with 53 seconds remaining in the third period for Washington (43-23-8), which moved three points ahead of the New York Islanders. The Capitals have played one more game.
Victor Hedman won it for the Lightning with 1:59 remaining in overtime.
WATCH: [All Lightning vs. Capitals highlights]
"I think the biggest thing I want to focus on is what our team did and how we stuck with it and come back and you're able to tie it up at the end there to get a point," Washington coach Todd Reirden said. "Obviously big points right now in the Metro Division for us, so I'm proud of my team."
The 58 shots on goal set a Capitals record. Braden Holtby made 23 saves.
Nikita Kucherov had two goals for Tampa Bay (57-13-4), which has won six straight games and clinched the Presidents' Trophy on Monday. The Lightning are five victories from tying the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings for the NHL single-season record (62).
Hedman scored on a backhand shot from point-blank range to give Tampa Bay its second win against Washington in five days. The Lightning defeated the Capitals 6-3 at Amalie Arena on March 16.

"I got the puck, was looking over my options, didn't really like what I saw and blacked out and I scored," Hedman said.
Vasilevskiy's 54 saves set a Lightning record.
"Another incredible performance and definitely wish we played a little bit better in front of him and caused a lot of havoc and chances against," Tampa Bay defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. "He stood tall and gave us a great chance to find a way to win a game."

Lars Eller gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead on a breakaway at 7:32 of the first period.
Kucherov's power-play goal from the top of the right circle tied it 1-1 at 1:19 of the second.
Steven Stamkos quickly gave the Lightning a 2-1 lead at 2:12 with a power-play goal, four seconds after Alex Ovechkin was called for elbowing.
Tampa Bay was 3-for-3 on the power play; Washington was 1-for-6.

"I didn't think we were terrible on the PK, but they're dangerous," Capitals forward Carl Hagelin said.
Anthony Cirelli made it 3-1 at 6:45 when he controlled a rebound and centered a pass that deflected off Capitals defenseman John Carlson.
Hagelin pulled Washington within 3-2 at 10:30 off a pass from Eller.
T.J. Oshie tied it 3-3 at 13:40 on a power play, but Kucherov finished off a highlight-reel passing sequence for his second power-play goal of the period at 15:01 to give the Lightning a 4-3 lead.

"It's elite players making plays," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "We're blessed to have some of those players on our team who can make those plays, but obviously we needed them tonight."
Capitals defenseman Michal Kempny sustained a lower-body injury in the second period and did not return.
"I think at this point it's safe to say he's going to miss some time," Reirden said. "We'll find out some more tomorrow, but that's how we'll leave it for right now."

They said it

"They're the defending champs, so we have to raise our level to eventually follow in their footsteps in that regard. So we want to just make sure we're continuing to get better here down these final seven, eight games." -- Lightning captain Steven Stamkos

"Obviously we competed right to the end to get a point and we know there's some areas we can make it a little more difficult on them, kind of take a few pointers from their game. They're a good team, we're a good team, and it's been two very close games." -- Capitals goalie Braden Holtby

Need to know

It was Cooper's 199th win in the NHL. … The Lightning recalled defenseman Cameron Gaunce from Syracuse of the American Hockey League. … Oshie's goal was his 200th NHL point (99 goals, 101 assists). … Hagelin has two multipoint games in the past four; he did not have any earlier this season with the Pittsburgh Penguins or Los Angeles Kings.

What's next

Lightning: At the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, TVAS, FS-CR, SUN, NHL.TV)
Capitals: Host the Minnesota Wild on Friday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, TVAS, NBCSWA, FS-N, NHL.TV)