Tampa Bay Lightning Drop Pivotal Game 3 In Detroit

The Tampa Bay Lightning had to expect that the Detroit Red Wings, playing at the Joe, would play with more energy than they did in Tampa. The Wings brought it tonight and challenged the Lightning and the bell was not answered by our Bolts. The Red Wings beat the Lightning by a score of 3 to 0.

This was a typical playoff game. We saw a lot of hits and some very stingy defense limiting any viable scoring chances. Unfortunately, it was all from the Red Wings. The effort from Tampa simply was not there. From a miserable power play that failed to score in six chances to a penalty kill that gave up a back breaking goal in the third period.

You have to tip your hat to Detroit’s young goalie, Petr Mrazek. After an amazing performance in game one, Mrazek was chased after two periods in game two. We were left to debate which Mrazek would show up. Let me say this: over the last three playoff games, over the last 82 regular season games and over the four playoff games a year ago and the last fifty regular season games last season only one goalie has shut out the Tampa Bay Lightning; Petr Mrazek. That is incredible.

Over 132 regular season and seven playoff games only young Petr Mrazek has shut down the Lightning, TWICE. Tonight, it couldn’t come in a bigger game for the Detroit Red Wings as they take a two games to one lead in this playoff series.

An early goal by Pavel Datsyuk or should I say his skate, gave the Wings a one goal lead which stood as the only goal of the game until a power play goal by Riley Sheahan early in the final period. This goal broke the will of the Lightning, trailing by two with less than 14 minutes left in regulation.

An empty netter at 19:11 of the third period by Detroit as Coach Jon Cooper pulled Ben Bishop with about two minutes to go for a last ditch effort which fell short. Speaking of effort, the Lightning failed in this aspect miserably tonight.

They had to know that Detroit was going to be amped up by their home crowd and appeared not to be ready for that energy from the home team. Their passing was horrendous all night. Usually, they make crisp tape to tape passes but I lost count of how many times Lightning players had to put on the brakes as a result of passes that were off the mark.

The puck possession game which Tampa controlled in the first two games went MIA. There were very few significant cycles in the offensive zone. Was it Detroit’s defense? Was it the Tampa’s effort, or lack thereof? Here is a stat we rarely see – The Lightning gave away the puck seven times without securing one takeaway all night from the Red Wings. This may not seem important, but in the first two games of the series, the Lightning had a total of 17 takeaways. That is a big part of their game and it was non-existent tonight.

To be sure, the series was not lost tonight but how the Tampa Bay Lightning respond in game four will be critical. I guess that is redundant, since it is the playoffs and aren’t all games critical? But the team needs to shake off this loss, this lackluster effort and bring it Thursday night.

It needs to come from the leaders on this team. Steven Stamkos has yet to score a goal and it is time he gets it going. Ondrej Palat and Nikita Kucherov together have a grand total of one assist. Their linemate, Tyler Johnson is holding his own with two goals. Other players who have helped lead this team during the season, need to pick it up Thursday night.

Tampa is in another must win situation. The home crowd will be loud, the Wings will be ready and the Lightning will be tested. Not only must they find the bell but answer the damn thing, answer it loud, answer it long to tie this series before coming home for game five. Puck drops at 7:00 Thursday night.

Next: Tampa Bay Lightning Power Play Must Improve

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