Can the Washington Capitals Strike Lightning in Tampa?

As the Washington Capitals gear up to face the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena, fans are eager to see if their team can carry forward the momentum from their recent performances. The Capitals have shown a mix of resilience and vulnerability in their past games, which could be pivotal in determining the outcome of this upcoming clash.

On February 11, against the Vancouver Canucks, despite a valiant effort that led them into overtime, WSH fell short by just one point. The game ended with a score of 3-2 in favor of Vancouver. This was a game where they managed to put up 33 shots but were hindered by an unimpressive powerplay performance with zero goals out of three opportunities and only winning 17 percent of those faceoffs.

However, looking back at their game on February 10 against Boston Bruins reveals a different side to WSH. They dominated with a shutout win scoring three goals from just 28 shots and excelled on powerplays by converting one out of three chances. Their goaltender was impenetrable that night, saving all 18 shots faced.

The most concerning data comes from WSH's encounter with Florida Panthers on February 9. Despite putting up two goals from 23 shots and maintaining an even strength throughout most parts of the game, they succumbed to Florida's offensive onslaught losing four points to two.

The key takeaway for WSH is consistency in defense and capitalizing on powerplay opportunities. Their shooting percentage has fluctuated significantly across these games – peaking at eleven percent against Boston but dropping as low as six percent versus Vancouver.

Tampa Bay Lightning will not make it easy for them either; they are known for their strong defensive play and quick counterattacks. For WSH to emerge victorious, they must tighten up defensively while also being more clinical during man-advantage situations.

Capitals fans should mark their calendars for February 23 when these two teams will face off at Amalie Arena at midnight Eastern Time (ET). It promises to be an electrifying match-up that can swing either way depending on which version of the Capitals shows up – the resilient force seen against Boston or the side that struggled in converting chances like against Vancouver and Florida Panthers.

For those who cannot attend live can catch all action broadcast nationally on ESPN channel number 206; it's certainly not one you'd want to miss!