It was a quirky period that delivered four penalties and two goals, and the Tampa Bay Lightning leave the first period tied with the Washington Capitals in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal series, which the Lightning lead 3-0 and can end with a win tonight.
Capitals Vs. Lightning, Game 4: Capitals Tie It After One Period Facing Elimination
Ryan Malone got another goal without taking a shot, as Vincent Lecavalier threw a centering pass in front, and it went off the skate of Malone and past Michal Neuvirth at 12:37. It was Malone’s third of the playoffs and second of the series, while Lecavalier got his series-leading sixth point in four games, and 12 points in the playoffs.
A fluky goal got Washington even, when Alexander Ovechkin drilled a shot that went off the pads of Dwayne Roloson, then ricocheted off of Marco Sturm, went over the top of Roloson, popped up in the air and off of his back to tie it 1-1 at 18:30, in what had to be one of the strangest goals of the playoffs. It was Sturm’s first goal of the post-season, and took back what had been an all-Tampa game from Malone’s goal till then.
The period was personified by dumb penalties that led to goals. Both clubs are 1-for-2 on the power play. Alexander Ovechkin took a terrible charging penalty that led to the Malone goal, while a Nate Thompson goaltender interference set up the Sturm tally.
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