Caps and Lightning face off for game one of the Eastern Conference Finals
5-11 Washington at Tampa Bay Eastern Conference Finals Game 1
TV: 8pm NBC Sports Network
Washington Capitals (8-4): Last game Capitals defeat the Penguins 2-1 in OT (Win series 4-2)
Capitals Top performers:
- Alex Chiasson- 1 goal
- Nathan Walker- first Australian with a point in the NHL playoffs
- E. Kuznetsov- game winning goal in OT
- Braden Holtby- 21 saves
The Capitals and Lightning have met in the postseason only twice, both wins for the Lightning. The Capitals will be facing the Vezina Trophy finalist Andrei Vasilevskiy. On the other side of the ice, Braden Holtby has played 11 games, has an 8-3 record, a .926 save percentage, and a 2.04 GAA. Washington went 1-1-1 against Tampa Bay this regular season.
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Vrana-Eller-Oshie
Burakovsky-Stephenson-Connolly
DSP-Beagle-Chiasson
Kempny-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-Djoos
Holtby
Tampa Bay Lightning (8-2): Last game Lightning defeat the Bruins
Tampa Top performers:
- Brayden Point- goal
- J.T Miller- goal
- Kucherov, and Stamkos- assist each
- Andrei Vasilevskiy- 27 saves
Tampa enters this third round a confident team having only lost twice through their first two series. They took down both the New Jersey Devils and the Boston Bruins, a team that finished second in the conference, in just five games. Andrei Vasilevskiy this postseason has played in 10 games, has an 8-2 record, a .927 save percentage, and a 2.20 GAA.
Game 1: Capitals at Lightning. Friday, 5/11 at 8:00 p.m. ET. (Broadcast on NBCSN)
Game 2: Capitals at Lightning. Sunday, 5/13 at 8:00 p.m. ET. (Broadcast on NBC)
Game 3: Lightning at Capitals. Tuesday, 5/15 at 8:00 p.m. ET. (Broadcast on NBCSN)
Game 4: Lightning at Capitals. Thursday, 5/17 at 8:00 p.m. ET. (Broadcast on NBCSN)
Game 5 (if Necessary): Capitals at Lightning. Saturday, 5/19 at 7:15 p.m. ET. (Broadcast on NBC)
Game 6 (If Necessary): Lightning at Capitals. Monday, 5/21 (Channel NBCSN)
Game 7 (If Necessary): Capitals at Lightning. Wednesday, 5/23 (Channel NBCSN)