TAMPA, Fla. — Andrei Vasilevskiy made 31 saves, Anthony Cirelli had a goal and two assists, and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat Washington 3-2 Monday night, ending the Capitals’ eight-game season-opening point streak.
Tampa Bay also got goals from Alex Killorn and Brayden Point. Taylor Raddysh picked up his first NHL point, coming in his eighth game, by assisting on Point’s goal
Brett Leason got his first NHL goal and Conor Sheary also scored for the the Capitals, who came in 5-0-3. Vitek Vanecek stopped 23 shots.
Washington star Alex Ovechkin had his season-opening eight-game point streak (nine goals, six assists) end. He remains two goals away from tying Brett Hull (741) for fourth place all-time.
Ovechkin had a shot on goal and two more attempts from the top of the left circle blocked by Erik Cernak during a late first-period power play. He had a drive from the left circle during a 2-on-1 midway through the second stopped by Vasilevskiy.
Killorn and Cirelli had second-period goals as Tampa Bay took a 2-1 lead. Point put the the Lightning ahead 3-1 at 2:56 of the third.
Sheary’s power-play goal got Washington to 3-2 with 8:22 left.
Leason scored 1:13 into the game when his shot from the right wing boards was redirected past Vasilevskiy off Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman’s stick. It came in his second game.
Vasilevskiy went post-to-post to make a nifty stop on Tom Wilson in the opening minute of the second period before Killorn tied it at 3:18 to extend his goal streak to four games.
Cirelli made it 2-1 during a 5-on-3 power play at 8:40.
QUOTABLE
“National Hockey League, full of the best players in the world, and there’s certain players that stand apart,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said of Ovechkin. “He’s one of them. He’s blessed with size and strength, and that shooter’s mentality. You’re watching a generational talent.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Capitals: C Nic Dowd (lower body) was placed on injured reserve.
Lightning: D Cal Foote (finger surgery) made his season debut.
UP NEXT
Capitals: Wrapup a two-game Sunshine State trip Thursday night at Florida.
Lightning: Play at Toronto Thursday night.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.