Fansided

3 takeaways from the Capitals skating through the Lightning in Game 1

By Jeremy Lambert

TAMPA, FL - MAY 11: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) reacts to scoring a goal during the first period of the first game of the NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Finals between the Washington Capitals and the Tampa Bay Lightning on May 11, 2018, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - MAY 11: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) reacts to scoring a goal during the first period of the first game of the NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Finals between the Washington Capitals and the Tampa Bay Lightning on May 11, 2018, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – MAY 11: Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning gives up a goal against the Washington Capitals during Game One of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on May 11, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – MAY 11: Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning gives up a goal against the Washington Capitals during Game One of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on May 11, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images) /

2. We’ve seen this before

Before anyone starts calling for Louis Domingue to start Game 2, let’s remember that we just saw this story last round. Andrei Vasilevskiy gave up five goals on 23 shots in Game 1 against the Boston Bruins.

He gave up seven goals in the next four games.

Domingue made a couple of big saves in the third period, including a cross crease skate save on Lars Eller to keep the game at 4-1. But he’s not going to start in Game 2 and anyone thinking otherwise just enjoys being a the best man and never wants to get married.

Vasilevskiy didn’t give his best effort, but the team in front of him did him no favors. Tampa Bay had ten shots through the first two periods. Their offense generated nothing and their defense failed to clear bodies in front of the net. He was also the victim of a couple of bad bounces.

Washington fanned on two shots that ended up behind Vasilevskiy because Washington had players in the right place at the right time. And the Tampa Bay defense decided to watch the puck instead of trying to clear or putting a body on someone.

It’s Game 1 of a potential seven game series. Washington proved to be the better team on Friday night, but they’ll play again at least three more times. Vasilevskiy will be better moving forward. The Lightning will be better moving forward. And if they aren’t, it will only be three more games.

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