TAMPA, Fla. _ Some old habits have been cropping up for the Lightning. Tampa Bay has had to come from behind in each of its last four games.
Twice, the Lightning has been able to complete the comeback. But not against the Capitals on Saturday. Tampa Bay gave up four goals before finally getting on the board late in the second period, then went on to lose to the Capitals, 6-3.
J.T. Miller started the comeback attempt, tipping Mikhail Sergachev's shot past Braden Holtby with 2:35 left in the second period. The initial shot (and thus the tip) was so hard the sound of the puck hitting Miller's stick reverberated up to the rafters.
Tyler Johnson scored on a breakaway at 3:36 of the third period, bringing the Lightning within two and igniting hopes of yet another comeback.
The Lightning have managed to win despite trailing after two periods nine times this year (compared to 12 losses), but this wasn't one of those.
Alex Ovechkin landed his 50th goal of the season with just over five minutes to play in the game. That three-goal deficit made the Lightning's hopes once again appear slim. He added No. 51 two minutes later to seal the win for Washington.
Nikita Kucherov's goal in the final minute couldn't do anything except bring the final score to an exact flip of the Lightning's win over Washington two weeks ago.
