Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals got off to a disastrous start for the Lightning.
With Tampa Bay trailing by a goal in the final seconds of the first period Friday, none other than Nikita Kucherov appeared to tie the game on an incredible individual effort, flipping the puck past Capitals goalie Braden Holtby while falling to the ice on a partial breakaway. The crowd at Amalie Arena whipped into a frenzy, thrilled to head into intermission tied after the Lightning managed just two shots on goal in their sluggish start to the period.
Except, the Lightning had been called for too many men on the ice mere moments before. The goal was waved off, and Washington went on the power play.
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Nikita Kucherov just scored the goal of the playoffs...if the #Lightning didn't have too many men on the ice. pic.twitter.com/AWlm6Ak2w2
— Sporting News Canada (@sportingnewsca) May 12, 2018
- Nikita Kucherov scores a highlight reel goal with 7.1 sec remaining
— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) May 12, 2018
- Goal disallowed because Tampa had six skaters on
- Alex Ovechkin scores on the powerplay 4.2 seconds later
Playoff hockey, man. pic.twitter.com/iP4vOKOG5S
Two seconds later, the Caps cashed in. Off the ensuing faceoff, Alex Ovechkin wound up and released a rocket one-timer that found its way through a screen. Instead of a 1-1 game, the Capitals took a 2-0 lead into intermission in a painfully twisted turn of events for the Lightning. Washington went on to win 4-2.
