Schedule / Matchup Preview

Washington Capitals vs Tampa Bay Lightning · Matchup Preview Based on 26-27 form — rosters current

Season 26-27
Matchup Preview vs Lightning · MON · MAR 15 · 2:00 PM CT ← Back to schedule
Upcoming
MON · MAR 15 · 2:00 PM CT
Capital One Arena
MNMT · The Spot
Washington Capitals
Capitals
1–1–0
VS
Tampa Bay Lightning
Lightning
1–1–0
Upcoming
MON · MAR 15 · 2:00 PM CT
MNMT · The Spot
Washington Capitals
Home · Capitals
1–1–0
2 PTS
VS
Puck Drop In
The read
Alex Ovechkin has solved Andrei Vasilevskiy before, 16 goals on 154 shots. But Tampa Bay has found Logan Thompson beatable: .825 on 63 shots.
Capital One Arena
Tampa Bay Lightning
Away · Lightning
1–1–0
2 PTS
Capitals
GOALIES
Lightning
Logan Thompson
Logan Thompson
Expected
.939 SV% · 2.00 GAA · 1W
.923 SV% L5 · Locked in
VS
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Expected
.889 SV% · 2.59 GAA · 1W
.888 SV% L5 · Cooling
Capitals
PROJECTED TOP LINES
Lightning
L1
Alex Tuch · Pierre-Luc Dubois · Tom Wilson
L2
Alex Ovechkin · Dylan Strome · Ryan Leonard
L3
Aliaksei Protas · Ilya Protas · Jordan Kyrou
L4
Boone Jenner · Justin Sourdif · Anthony Beauvillier
D1
Jakob Chychrun · Matt Roy
D2
Cole Hutson · Vincent Desharnais
D3
Martin Fehervary · Timothy Liljegren
PP1
Tom Wilson · Dylan Strome · Pierre-Luc Dubois · Alex Ovechkin · Jakob Chychrun
PP2
Alex Tuch · Ilya Protas · Ryan Leonard · Cole Hutson · Jordan Kyrou
PK1
Aliaksei Protas · Tom Wilson · Vincent Desharnais · Matt Roy
PK2
Boone Jenner · Alex Tuch · Martin Fehervary · Timothy Liljegren
CapitalsProjected lines
L1
Alex Tuch · Pierre-Luc Dubois · Tom Wilson
L2
Alex Ovechkin · Dylan Strome · Ryan Leonard
L3
Aliaksei Protas · Ilya Protas · Jordan Kyrou
L4
Boone Jenner · Justin Sourdif · Anthony Beauvillier
D1
Jakob Chychrun · Matt Roy
D2
Cole Hutson · Vincent Desharnais
D3
Martin Fehervary · Timothy Liljegren
PP1
Tom Wilson · Dylan Strome · Pierre-Luc Dubois · Alex Ovechkin · Jakob Chychrun
PP2
Alex Tuch · Ilya Protas · Ryan Leonard · Cole Hutson · Jordan Kyrou
PK1
Aliaksei Protas · Tom Wilson · Vincent Desharnais · Matt Roy
PK2
Boone Jenner · Alex Tuch · Martin Fehervary · Timothy Liljegren
LightningProjected lines
No projected lines yet
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:10 AM CT
Capitals
INJURY REPORT
Lightning
Matt Roy
DAY-TO-DAY · Lower body
Emil Lilleberg
DAY-TO-DAY · Undisclosed injury
Patrick Thomas
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 24
Yanni Gourde
IR · Hip (surgery) · Expected back Dec 2
Rasmus Sandin
IR · Right knee (surgery) · Expected back Dec 26
Dominic James
IR · Hand · Expected back Oct 13
CapitalsInjury report
Matt Roy
DAY-TO-DAY · Lower body
Patrick Thomas
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 24
Rasmus Sandin
IR · Right knee (surgery) · Expected back Dec 26
LightningInjury report
Emil Lilleberg
DAY-TO-DAY · Undisclosed injury
Yanni Gourde
IR · Hip (surgery) · Expected back Dec 2
Dominic James
IR · Hand · Expected back Oct 13
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:10 AM CT
STORYLINE
The Capitals lost their last game and are 1-1-0 in their first 2 games. The Lightning won their last game and are 1-1-0 in their first 2 games.

Matchup Intel

Alex Ovechkin has solved Andrei Vasilevskiy before, 16 goals on 154 shots. But Tampa Bay has found Logan Thompson beatable: .825 on 63 shots.

The problem is Brandon Hagel, who has 8 points in his last 4 against the Capitals. Tampa Bay won the first meeting 3-1 back on Oct 3.

The numbers behind it
Matchup
Alex Ovechkin has 16 goals on Andrei Vasilevskiy (154 shots).
(Washington)
16 goals on Andrei Vasilevskiy
Goaltending
Logan Thompson has struggled against Tampa Bay — a .825 save % on 63 shots.
.825 SV% vs TBL
Matchup
Pierre-Luc Dubois has 5 goals on Andrei Vasilevskiy (47 shots).
(Washington)
5 goals on Andrei Vasilevskiy
Player
Brandon Hagel has 8 points in his last 4 games against Washington. See the games →
(Tampa Bay)
8 pts, last 4 vs WSH
Player
Jake Guentzel has 6 points in his last 4 games against Washington. See the games →
(Tampa Bay)
6 pts, last 4 vs WSH
Series
Second meeting of the season — Tampa Bay took the first 3-1 on Oct 3. See the games →
0-1 series, WSH