Eventually, the running joke that has stuck to the Capitals through most of their unfortunate postseason existence will wear out. Though they thought this might Anton Forsberg Jersey be the year, there's a considerable amount of doubt creeping in now that the Lightning are square in the Eastern Conference finals.Washington watched itstwo-game lead in the best-of-seven series slip away Thursday with a 4-2 lo s at Capital One Arena.For a second straight game, Andrei Vasilevskiy stood on his head, making 36 saves, and the Lightning once again capitalized ontheir chances, beating Braden Holtbythrice on just 19 shots. BraydenPoint, Steven Stamkos and Alex Killornhad the goals, and Anthony Cirelli added an empty-netter in the game's final secondas the road team remained perfect (now 4-0) in this series.GOLDEN STANDARD Not even the return ofNicklasBackstromor a high-energycrowd was enough to help the Capitals keep their edge. And they were the better team wire to wire, this time avoiding penalty trouble (for the most part) and controlling po se sion. After failing to take a commanding 3-1 series lead, it's going to prove tricky to dodge the familiar feeling of despair as the series shifts back to Tampa, even though this is now a best-of-three sprint to the Stanley Cup Final.Ten other times in the Capitals' postseason historyhave they found a way to lose a series in which they held a two-game lead. Historically, that doesn't happen in the conference finals, but maybe that's because the Capitals aren't usually involved. Since 1975, teams with 2-0 leads in a conference finals or semifinals are 39-2.The Capitals have been perfect 7-0 on the road this postseason, but are now just 3-5at Capital One Arena.Washington has never beaten the Bolts at home in their postseason meetings (0-7).Sporting News provided live updates throughout the game(all times Eastern). MORE: Game 4 result: Lightning 4, Capitals 2Shots on goal: 36-16, Capitals10:33 p.m. GOAL. Alex Killornpotsa backhander from the net front justttt after the power play expires, his fifth goal of the playoffs. What a pa s from Ondrej Palatbehind the net to set that up. The Lightning take a 3-2 lead with 8:03 remaining. They have just 18 shots on goal.. puts the up 3-2. NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) 10:30 p.m. I jinxed it. Lars Eller heads to the box for hooking and the Lightning get a power play with 10:09 remaining. Their goal in the first period was a thing of beauty. This could be trouble. It's Eller Marcus Kruger Jersey 's fifth penalty in two games.10:29 p.m. Notably, the Caps have committed just oneminor penalty after sixin Game 3. It happened all the way back 7:27 into the first period.10:22 p.m. I repeat: Andrei Vasilevskiyis the ONLY reason this game is still tied. He stopped back-to-back prime scoring chances from EvgenyKuznetsov and Brett Connolly and has generally been terrific. He's stopped 33 of 35 shots so far, continuing a total transformation from Games 1 and 2. . #GoBolts (@TBLightning) 10:10 p.m. The third period is under way. Hard to helpfeeling like these next 20 minutes could decide who ends up winning this series.Second period: Lightning 2, Capitals 2 Shots on goal: 27-11, Capitals 9:52 p.m. Two periods in the books. Capitals still 0-fer on the power play, but they gained the edge for 20 minutes and probably would have taken the lead if not for Andrei Vasilelskiy.9:48 p.m. HOLT-BY chants rain down after Braden Holtby stones Tyler Johnson. Facing just 11 shots so far, he's not getting a lot of action in net. Caps need him to stay on point, but it looks like he's up to the task ... at least in this period.Hotlby comes up big against Johnson. NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) 9:36 p.m. More than 20 minutes of game time elapsed between shots on goal for the Lightning. Their last shot of the first period came with 11:44 remaining. Their first shot of the second period came at 10:11. The Capitals had 17 shots on goal Steve Larmer Jersey during that span (but only one goal).9:25 p.m. GOAL. EvgenyKuznetsovties it 2-all. Streaking down the wing, he beat Andrei Vasilevskiyfive hole for his 10th goal of the playoffs. What a breakout pa s by Alex Ovechkin.Kuzy Ties it Up! Washington Capitals (@Capitals) 9:14 p.m. The second period has begun.First period: Lightning 2, Capitals 1 Shots on goal: 14-5, Capitals 8:57 p.m. That's end the first period. Capitals can't convert on any of their three power plays in the final 10 minutes. So far, the difference in this 2-1 game is special teams. Advantage: Tampa.8:53 p.m. Make that a third straight power play for the Capitals. Nikita Kucherovhooks Matt Niskanen in the neutral zone with 2:04 remaining in the first period. Tampa is 2 for 2 on the kill. Eventually, Washington needs to capitalize.8:45 p.m. Another trip to the power play for the Capitals. Victor Hedmanis called for slashing Jakub Vrana at 14:31.8:39 p.m. YanniGourde called for interfering with Tom Wilson. Caps to the power play at 11:20, their first of the game.8:34 p.m. GOAL. What puck movement by that aforementioned lethal Lightning power play. Kucherov-Miller-Kucherov-Miller-Point, Brendan Perlini Jersey andSteven Stamkosfinishes it off to giveTampa a 2-1 lead. That's Stamkos' sixth goal in his last seven games. It marks Tampa's ninth straight playoff game with at least one power-play goal (6 for 13 in this series), a franchise record.More Tic-Tac-Toe pa sing has the up 2-1!!Sheesh! SiriusXM NHL Network (@SiriusXMNHL) 8:32 p.m. Lars Eller goes to the boxfor a neutral zone hold and the lethal Tampa power playgets its first look of the night. Eller, one of the Caps' top penalty killers, took three penalties in Game 3, and that was pretty much their undoing.8:26 p.m. GOAL. Brayden Point gets it right back. He finishes off a beautiful tic-tac-toe pa sing sequence with Yanni Gourde, scoring on a helple s Braden Holtbyon the back post. We're all tied1-1 just 5:38 into this one.Johnson Gourde Point! tie 1-1 Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) 8:24 p.m. GOAL. Dmitry Orlovgets the Caps on the board 4:28 into the game with a canonizing blast that beats Andrei Vasilevskiy, caroming into the net off his left shoulder. That's Orlov's second goal of the playoffs.What a shift from 77 + 9! Washington Capitals (@Capitals) 8:17 p.m. Here. We. Go. The puck is down for Game 4.Pregame 8:05 p.m. And here Stan Mikita Jersey 's the Lightning lineup. No changes from Game 3.Backstrom in Chia son out.Line-ups for Game 4.TB vs Washington