Tampa Bay Lightning beats Washington Capitals 4-2 in Game 1 of Eastern Conference semis | Florida Statesman

Tampa Bay Lightning beats Washington Capitals 4-2 in Game 1 of Eastern Conference semis

St Petersburg Times Monday 2nd May, 2011

WASHINGTON - If there ever was a time the Lightning could have folded, Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinal against the Capitals was it. With a bench shortened by the losses of left wing Simon Gagne and defenseman Pavel Kubina to possible concussions, the team was depleted. Playing on two days of rest after a seven-game series with the Penguins, it was exhausted. What it was not was defeated. The Lightning earned a gratifying 4-2 victory Friday night at the Verizon Center. "The players," coach Guy Boucher said, "gave beyond what they can give in this game." The turning point was 3 minutes, 11 seconds of the second period in which Steve Downie and Steven Stamkos scored to overcome a 2-1 deficit. Downie scored when the puck deflected past goalie Michal Neuvirth off th...

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