2011 NHL Playoffs: Tampa Bay Lightning Stun Washington Capitals, Take 3-0 Lead

It was right there for the Capitals to grab—a win that would guarantee them tickets back home to play hockey at the Verizon Center and give them a much better shot at defeating Tampa Bay.

The Capitals were clinging to a 3-2 third period lead, which was so precious. All they had to do was keep it.

However, in a matter of 24 seconds, they let it go.

Steven Stamkos and Ryan Malone scored in a period of 24 seconds as the Lightning stunned the Capitals 4-3, pushing them to the brink of elimination.

Sean Bergenheim and Vincent Lecavalier also found the net for Tampa Bay, who has won six straight.

Early in the game, Washington had the puck deep in Tampa territory. Somehow, Mike Knuble got the puck past Dwayne Roloson from the side of the net. The Capitals started a brief celebration, but it stopped when they were called for a penalty, for too many men on the ice.

The Lightning had many chances, especially on power plays, but refused to take long slap shots. They wanted to get to the net and have a real good chance to score.

In the first period, Tampa Bay had failed to score on a breakaway, as the shot went wide.

However, the tide turned quickly for the Lightning, as a steal gave Tampa another breakaway.

Sean Bergenheim took it up, passed to Steve Downie, who passed it back to Bergenheim. Bergenheim shot the puck around Michael Neuvirth and this time got the Lightning a goal.

Both teams had good chances in the first, with Washington and Tampa Bay both getting another good breakaway but failing to capitalize.

In the second, however, Washington scored quickly, with Brooks Laich poking the puck past Roloson. John Carlson then fired a slap shot that also got past Roloson, giving the Caps a 2-1 lead.

Washington doesn't usually keep these leads, though, and Tampa Bay got the puck back in their offensive zone.

Martin St. Louis gave Lecavalier a great pass and the center pushed the puck into the net, tying the game at two.

This game was back-and-forth, with Washington scoring one moment and Tampa Bay scoring the next—with Washington getting a breakaway and Tampa Bay countering with a breakaway of their own.

Washington continued that, as Alexander Ovechkin fired a shot that got over the right shoulder of Dwayne Roloson.

The game was in the hands of Michael Neuvirth. He was spectacular in the Capitals' series against the Rangers, especially the first two games, where he only allowed one goal as the Capitals took a 2-0 lead.

If he could just play like that, Washington would have the game.

What's more, he did play like that...for a little bit.

Early in the period, Steven Stamkos skated to the right side and fired a shot. It hit top shelf. Neuvirth couldn't stop it.

The game was tied, but it wasn't tied 24 seconds later.

Nate Thompson had the puck on a breakaway and Ryan Malone was skating up, barely trailing the play. Thompson passed it towards the left side of the goal, towards Malone. The puck deflected off a defender's skate, but Malone still received it and poked it past Neuvirth.

The Lightning held a 4-3 lead.

Dwayne Roloson knew he got lucky that Washington allowed four goals and that the Lightning were on top, so he made sure that luck wasn't a factor.

He stopped every shot that the Capitals took in the third period and the Lightning held on for the 4-3 win. Tampa Bay is up 3-0 in the series.

Game 4 is tomorrow night.