Capitals Vs Lightning February 14, 2013 Game Review

Capitals celebrate second period goal by Eric Fehr against Lightning in Tampa, FL February 14, 2013.
Photo © Mike Carlson / AP Photo.

Washington Capitals 4 Vs Tampa Bay Lightning 3 = Road Game Win

The Washington Capitals hockey team that played in Florida against the Tampa Bay Lightning on February 14, 2013 was a very different group of guys than the bunch that played there in the -2012--2013 NHL season opening game last month. Technically, it was pretty much the same roster, but they were a good bit more disciplined, physically fit, generally focused and tighter unit this time around. Well, for about fifty minutes, anyway. Well, maybe for 45 minutes. Well ... most of them.

Washington were penalized eight times in that first game, but only three times in this game. Now, Tampa Bay also dropped their penalty count from five down to two, but the Capitals scored the only power-play goal. That PPG came two minutes and fourty seconds into the game.

It was the seventh goal of the season for Troy Brouwer (F), making him the goal scoring leader of the team, for now. Centers Mathieu Perreault and Nicklas Backstrom notched the assists on the play. Just under six minutes later, Martin StLouis (RW) answered back, with a goal for the Lightning.

Eric Fehr got his second goal of the season about five minutes into the second period, after some solid forechecking. Mathieu Perreault had the primary assist on this goal too, while the secondary came from Joel Ward (F).

When Eric Fehr (RW) scored his second of the game for Washington at the beginning of the third period, it was Mathieu Perreault again, who got the puck to him, earning Matty a three point night. This time, defenseman John Carlson was credited with the other assist.

What would turn out to be the game winning goal, would come from a wrist shot by forward Jay Beagle, that found it's way past Lightning netminder Mathieu Garon. Defensemen Jeff Schultz and Tomas Kundratek teamed up to help Beagle get his first goal of the season.

Up until this point, most of Washington had played a very good game, but Tampa Bay wasn't giving in. In the last eight minutes of period three, the Bolts backhanded the puck by Caps goaltender Braden Holtby twice. This brought on an uh-oh moment for Caps fans. We were probably all thinking, "I thought we were done with this kind of -shit- (I mean) breakdown". Thankfully, the boys were able to clamp it down, the rest of the way.

Things had looked so bad a couple weeks ago, but now Caps fans are once again hopeful. Still at the bottom of their conference, they've got a bit of a ways to go. Recently though, Washington's offense has really started to pick up.

In eight games played, Perreault has two multi-point games. Within all fourteen games played, the Capitals have four players with at least five goals each, and also four players with points in double digits. They are only four standing points away from the final playoff spot. Washington have just won three straight, and thoughts of an entry draft lottery spot are starting to fade.

Game Highlights: Washington Capitals At Tampa Bay Lightning February 14, 2013

Caps Postgame Locker Room 02/14/13: Caps players Eric Fehr, Mathieu Perreault and Braden Holtby address the media after a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Adam Oates Postgame 02/14/13: Caps head coach Adam Oates addresses the media after a the Caps 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.