Geekie, Lightning Down Capitals in Home Opening Win
By Mike Smith | Thunderstruck Sports
Conor Geekie scored the game-winning goal, and Brandon Hagel added two assists as the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Washington Capitals 3-1 Saturday night. The performance contrasted sharply with their opening-night showing against the New York Rangers, where they were soundly defeated 5-1.
Although it was only the second game of the season, the Lightning were determined to show that they were capable of far more than they showed at Madison Square Garden Thursday night.
Their response on Saturday night at Benchmark International Arena, celebrating its 30th year as the team's home, was stellar by comparison.
The Lightning got on the board early when Hagel found Charle-Edouard D'Astous high above the right circle at 2:26 of the first period. Emil Lilleberg wrapped the puck around the boards to a waiting Jake Guentzel, who laid the puck out for Hagel to collect.
Hagel found D'Astous high just above the right circle with an angle on the Washington goal. D'Astous used an inadvertent screen by the defense to shoot the puck past Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren, igniting the 19,092 fans in attendance.
The Bolts outshot Washington 14-5 in the opening period, finding scoring opportunities with crisp passes and a determination that was missing in New York.
"I thought there was just compete (sic). I think that's something maybe we thought we were missing last game," Hagel said postgame when asked what he thought the team showed Saturday night. "I didn't think anything last game had to do with structure. I think it was just compete and battle wins, and we came out here, competed in the face-off dot, competed all over the ice in the D-zone."
"I think maybe we could have deserved a few more, but we stuck with it, and we were able to grind one out."
Lightning Show Mettle When It Counts
Geekie added the game-winning goal at the 16:30 mark of the first period. Guentzel brought the puck into the Washington zone, hitting Hagel with a pass as the two crossed paths and crossed up the Capitals' defense.
As Washington tried to regroup, Hagel found Geekie on the right side, and Geekie buried it in the back of the net to make it 2-0.
"I told him (Hagel) in the intermission. I said, 'You gave me one two years ago, and I missed,'" Geekie said. "He kind of faked me out a little bit too, but I was just ready and made sure I put it home."
Washington pushed back in the second period. Justin Sourdif cut the Tampa Bay lead to one when he redirected a Jakob Chychrun shot past goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy at the 7:04 mark.
Vasilevskiy held court, however, stopping the remaining 19 shots he faced, including a flurry late in the game as Washington pressed.
The Vezina Trophy winner set a new standard Saturday night, earning his 371st win, the most wins in NHL history through 600 games played.
Despite Washington's attempts to get back in the game, the Lightning fought through several Capitals advances to earn their first two points of the season.
"I think our identity is, obviously, work ethic," Hagel said. "I think we got a bunch of dogs in here and it was fun to watch."
Guentzel sealed the game with an empty-net goal with just over two minutes to play. The forward from Nebraska finished with three points.
Power Play Shows Signs of Life
Tampa Bay's power play was abhorrent Thursday night against the Rangers, going 0-for 7 and generating only a handful of scoring chances.
Although they did not score on special teams Saturday night, they gave themselves ample opportunities to impress Cooper.
He called it "outstanding."
"There's games when the power play can be 3-for-4, and you're like, 'Wow, that was surprising,'" Cooper said of the effort. "And there's games you can go 0-for-3 tonight, and be like, 'I can't believe it didn't go in the net.' Sometimes it just happens that way, but they deserved a better statistical line than they got tonight."
The Lightning also controlled the faceoff dot, winning 30 of 48 faceoffs (62.5%).
With expectations high to begin the season, the Lightning faced an early challenge, struggling through a dreadful game Thursday marked by poor execution and an effort Cooper called "disappointing."
Tampa Bay responded with a stellar home performance.
"What you saw tonight is what we expect night in and night out," Coach Jon Cooper said. "You give an effort, and you compete and, really, what it comes down to is winning battles, and we did that tonight."
"We won a ton of battles, which was the complete opposite of what happened the night before."
'The Bench' Celebrates 30 Years
When the Ice Palace opened in October 1996, the arena quickly became one of the NHL's finest venues. Through renovations and upgrades, the now-Benchmark International Arena is one of the most challenging sheets of ice for opposing teams.
Not just because they have to play the Tampa Bay Lightning, but also because of an electric fan base supporting the Bolts from the stands.
Saturday night, the team celebrated the arena's 30th anniversary as the Bolts' home with a puck drop from legends: team founder Phil Esposito, inaugural head coach Terry Crisp, and former captain Brian Bradley.
The moment didn't escape the current band of Bolts who hit the ice on Saturday.
"It was massive. I think these fans have shown up every single year since I've been here," Hagel said. "Obviously, being traded to Florida, I didn't know what the hockey scene was going to be like being from Canada. But I came in here, and since the day I got here, it's honestly incredible."
The Lightning hold the longest active sellout streak in the National Hockey League, sitting at 430 consecutive sellouts.
"They continue to show up every night. They continue to sell out this building every single night," an amazed Hagel appreciated. "And as a hockey player and living your dream, I think that's all you can ask for, and I'm just grateful to play here."
"I continue to say it, it's one of the best fanbases in the league."
Three Stars of the Game
Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay. Stopped 19 of 20 shots en route to his 371st win in 600 games, a new record.
Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay. Two assists in the first period to set the tone.
Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay. A goal and two assists for three points.
Up Next
The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Philadelphia Flyers Monday night at Benchmark International Arena. Game time is at 7 pm.
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