In that opening period, the Lightning competed harder and played at a faster pace than Washington. As a result, the Caps applied virtually no offensive zone pressure. They didn't record their first shot on net until there were less than three minutes remaining in the frame. Instead, the period belonged to the Lightning. Three of their four first period goals came from defensemen. Mikhail Sergachev bookended things by scoring the first and fourth goals, both on shots from the point. Nick Perbix's left circle centering feed deflected off Erik Gustafsson's skate and into the net. And following a Brandon Hagel puck battle win, Sergachev set up Nikita Kucherov for a power play goal.
The Caps played with a little more intensity in the final 40 minutes and did manage to generate a few decent scoring chances. Andrei Vasilevskiy was sharp in turning those aside, though, allowing the Lightning to maintain a big lead. And even though the ice wasn't tilted quite as much in the Lightning's favor, it was still tilted. Over the last two periods, the Lightning still outshot and out chanced Washington. Charlie Lindgren relieved Darcy Kuemper after the Lightning's fourth goal - he played very well to keep the Lightning from adding to their lead, at least until the latter stages of the third period. Otherwise, the game would have finished with an even more lopsided final score.
The Lightning had a strong night on special teams. They tallied two first period power play goals. They also - for the second straight game against Washington - killed off six penalties. During all of those Washington power plays, the Caps were unable to spend substantial time in the offensive zone. Instead, the Lightning repeatedly worked pucks down the ice. In addition, they posted three shorthanded shots on net - equalling Washington's power play shot total.
The night featured a career-high four points for Sergachev. It also included Cole Koepke's first NHL goal, one of the strangest first NHL goals ever. Nobody in the building - including Koepke himself - knew the puck went in the net. Twenty-three seconds later, Hagel scored. But that goal came off the board when replays showed that Koepke's shot hit the camera in the middle of the net and caromed out. Koepke's first-goal celebration took place while he was sitting on the bench.
In the end, it was a decisive victory for the Lightning. They'll look to keep rolling on Tuesday when they host the Dallas Stars.
Lightning Radio Three Stars of the Game (as selected by Braydon Coburn):
1. Mikhail Sergachev - Lightning. Two goals and two assists.
2. Brandon Hagel - Lightning. Assist.
3. Ian Cole - Lightning.
