John Carlson set a franchise record with a tiebreaking power-play goal in the third period and the Washington Capitals boosted their playoff chances with a 4-2 win over the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.
At 8:29 of the third, Carlson put Washington (38-31-11, 87 points) ahead 3-2 with his 150th career goal — and ninth of the season. He now has the most markers by a defenseman in Capitals franchise history, passing Kevin Hatcher (149 goals).
Nic Dowd added some insurance with his 11th goal of the campaign at 16:46 as Washington jumped into the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Capitals’ Sonny Milano scored twice, while goaltender Charlie Lindgren made 32 saves in his 100th career start. Max Pacioretty notched an assist on Milano’s first tally in his 900th NHL game.
Washington won for just the second time in its past nine games (2-5-2).
Anthony Duclair and Brandon Hagel found the back of the net for Tampa Bay (44-28-8, 96 points), which holds the top wild card in the East. Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 30 shots.
During a frenzied play in front of Vasilevskiy in the first period, Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh put his stick on a pass and accidentally sent it right over to Milano, who slid in the game’s first goal at 9:56.
However, Raddysh redeemed himself by ripping a long shot that deflected in off Brayden Point’s stick and Duclair’s skate at 13:06. Duclair was credited with his 23rd goal of the season.
Milano capitalized for the second time just 54 seconds later, giving Washington its second lead at 2-1.
Strong work along the half-boards by the Lightning led to Hagel’s backhander that beat Lindgren at 16:24 for a 2-all tie.
The atmosphere in the arena changed suddenly when Tampa Bay’s Michael Eyssimont shoved Nick Jensen into the boards near the red line with 1:31 left in the period.
Play was stopped, and Jensen, motionless on the ice, was soon stretchered off. With tensions high, the players were sent to the dressing rooms, and the remaining 91 seconds of the first was carried over to the second.
Washington later announced Jensen was alert and able to use all his extremities.
Dowd tossed off the mitts at 11:01 of the second and fought Eyssimont, dropping him to the ice after a few punches and drawing cheers from the Capitals’ bench and crowd.
–Field Level Media
