Lightning vs. Capitals, Game 5: Full highlights, final score and more

The Lightning defeated the Capitals to take a 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference Final. Here are the full highlights, final score and more.

On Saturday night, the Tampa Bay Lightning made a statement for the books by ushering forth a 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals. They’re now just one victory away from snatching the Eastern Conference Final title and in turn advancing to the NHL’s ultimate battle for Lord Stanley’s trophy.

The first period began with an electrifying rush. A quick goal from Cedric Paquette got the Bolts on the board just 19 seconds into the matchup, as the 24-year-old center buried a pass from a Ryan Callahan-led battle along the boards. About half a period later, the Lightning struck again when Ondrej Palat fired a wrist shot home from the high slot after receiving a pass from Nikita Kucherov. The Capitals managed to kill off one of Tampa’s deadly powerplays, but nevertheless continued to look shaky until the horn sounded for the intermission, as they trailed by a score of 2-0.

To the dismay of many a Capitals fan, the second period started in a very similar fashion to the first. Only 33 seconds in, Anton Stralman led a speedy rush through Washington’s defensive zone and fired a shot that was banged home by Callahan. This time, however, the Capitals did not sit back. A strong point shot from Matt Niskanen was tipped by Evgeny Kuznetsov into the back of Andrei Vasilevskiy’s net, thus bringing Washington within two goals of evening up the game. Although the Capitals were firing on all cylinders over the rest of the period, the score remained 3-1 heading into the second intermission.

Washington turned on the gas over the course of the third period. Refusing to take a shift off, Barry Trotz’s men were all around the ice, as Kuznetsov, Alexander Ovechkin and John Carlson led countless offensive pushes. With 1:36 to go, Ovechkin buried a one-timer to place the Capitals just one goal short of tying the game. But it was too little too late. A sprawling save from Vasilevskiy off a Carlson shot allowed Tampa to walk away with a major win and take a 3-2 series lead.

Three Stars

3. Cedric Paquette

Prior to Game 5, the Bolts’ head coach, Jon Cooper, had to decide on a tactical move — the likes of which would make or break his team’s two-way presence. Left to grapple with the question of who ought to match up against an Ovechkin-led line, Cooper settled with Paquette to direct the operation. The results were a crucial part of the Bolts’ victory, as the center buried his first goal of the postseason a matter of seconds after the opening whistle blew. Paquette’s solid defensive play also provided his team with an edge that placed the Capitals’ offense in a problematized position throughout much of the mathchup.

2. Ryan Callahan

The veteran winger netted one goal and was the driving force behind the creation of another. He ultimately served as the most blatant proof of the Bolts’ capacity to overwhelm opponents by running four depth-ridden lines. If they’re serious about putting this series away on Monday, another massive performance will be needed from Callahan, whose board battles, aggression and two-way play was key to Tampa’s ability to emerge victorious in Saturday’s contest.

1. Andrei Vasilevskiy

There were periods of time in which the Bolts’ netminder was left waiting for something to happen. Take the opening period, for example. At the first intermission, the Lightning held a 2-0 lead and had taken ten more shots than their opponent.

But after Kuznetsov tipped a puck home, Washington rarely turned off the gas. The Capitals were all around the net and even managed to score another goal, but Vasilevskiy’s 28 saves on 30 shots was the central avenue through which the Bolts snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

With a pivotal game behind them, the momentum has finally swung in Tampa’s favor. The team is one win shy of advancing to the Stanley Cup finals. Their goaltender, in large part, is to thank for that.

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Highlights

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Next Game

The Washington Capitals host the Tampa Bay Lightning for Game 6 on Monday, May 21 at 8:00 p.m ET.

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