Tampa Bay at Washington

The Washington Capitals dominated the Tampa Bay Lightning right up until the playoffs last year. They have won 11 of the last 14 regular season games vs. the Lightning, but that changed in the playoffs when Tampa Bay marched in here and took games 1 and 2, getting the sweep. Those were some pretty bad Lightning teams. This year’s squad is much better, and the results have born that out. Dwayne Roloson has been a thorn for the Capitals as he finished with four shutouts last year, with two of those coming at the expense of Washington. The Lightning enter with a little streak of their own as winners of eight straight vs. the Southeast, including the previous mentioned sweep of Washington in the playoffs. The dog has struck in five of the last six here, and Tampa Bay is now the better team on the plus side of the line. Tampa Bay gets this one.