The Tampa Bay Lightning secured their eighth consecutive victory, defeating the Washington Capitals 3-1. Mitchell Chaffee and Gage Goncalves scored key goals, while Andrei Vasilevskiy was stellar in net, blocking 20 of 21 shots. The Capitals, despite Alex Ovechkin scoring his 884th career goal, struggled offensively and are now on a three-game losing streak. Vasilevskiy's performance included critical stops, notably on Matt Roy's late-second-period shot. Brandon Hagel added an empty-net goal to seal the win. This victory demonstrates the Lightning's potential for playoff success, especially with a focused Vasilevskiy. The Capitals maintain their lead in the Eastern Conference but must address their scoring issues.