When the game was tied and their season was in jeopardy, Charlie Lindgren stepped up with several crucial saves to keep the Washington Capitals competitive against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
With the game still tied and their season on the line, John Carlson unleashed a powerful shot that beat Andrei Vasilevskiy, giving the Capitals the crucial go-ahead goal they needed in a 4-2 victory on Saturday, preserving their hopes for a playoff berth.
“Every single moment matters right now,” Lindgren said, after making 32 saves in another impressive performance when his team needed it most. “We have just two games left and need to give it our all.”
Sonny Milano scored twice, and Nic Dowd added an insurance goal with 3:14 remaining. The Capitals secured only their second win in nine games, temporarily moving into the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot.
They may need to win their final two games to secure a playoff spot after missing out last year.
“Our fate is in our hands now,” Dowd emphasized. “The outcome of these next two games will determine our entire season, and we must come together as a group to achieve our goal.”
Defeating Tampa Bay was crucial to keeping their playoff hopes alive. A 5-on-3 power play opportunity in the third period gave Washington a prime chance to challenge Vasilevskiy, and Carlson capitalized with his 150th career goal, setting a franchise record for defensemen.
Milano’s goals earlier in the game helped the Capitals stay competitive, while Anthony Duclair and Brandon Hagel scored for Tampa Bay. Lindgren’s stellar goaltending, including key saves against Steven Stamkos, was instrumental in securing the win.
“He’s a true competitor,” Carlson praised. “He always steps up when the pressure is on, and our playoff aspirations wouldn’t be possible without him.” Vasilevskiy, on the other hand, displayed his usual dominance, making 30 saves throughout the game.
Despite the Lightning’s already secured wild-card spot, coach Jon Cooper acknowledged the importance of staying focused, even in the face of individual achievements, like Nikita Kucherov reaching 100 assists this season or leading the NHL in scoring.
“They’re in a different mental space than we are,” Cooper remarked. “But with the game tied and only 20 minutes left, we needed to stay focused. Unfortunately, we made some mental errors.”
