TAMPA, Fla. — Games carrying the promise of hot tempers from the previous meeting carrying into the next one seldom live up to the expectations.
And while many might have predicted the Lightning and Capitals to tussle early in Sunday’s game — two nights after an illegal hit to the head knocked out defenseman Cal Foote— Tampa Bay was more focused on punishing Washington in a different way in the opening period.
The Lightning ran out to their best start of the year, scoring a season-high four goals in the first period of a commanding 6-3 win.
