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Tampa Takes 32 Series Lead

am800-sports-hockey-nhl-tampa bay-lightning-washngton-1.3832081 TAMPA, FL - MAY 19: Anton Stralman #6 of the Tampa Bay Lightning takes a shot on Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals during the second period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on May 19, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) (Mike Carlson/Anton Stralman #6 of the Tampa Bay Lightning takes a shot on Braden Holtby #70 of the Capitals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on May 19, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images))

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The Lightning trim Washington to move to within a win of the finals

Cedric Paquette scored in the opening minute and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 28 shots to help the Tampa Bay Lightning hold off the Washington Capitals 3-2 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final.

Ondrej Palat and Ryan Callahan also scored as the home team won for the first time in the best-of-seven matchup, with the Lightning taking a 3-2 series lead and moving within one victory of advancing the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in four seasons.

The Capitals, in the conference final for the first time in the Alex Ovechkin era, have lost three straight after winning twice on the road to begin the series.

Game 6 is tomorrow night in Washington, where Tampa Bay has already won to improve to 5-1 on the road this post-season.