The Tampa Bay Lightning may have stolen a game from the Carolina Hurricanes, but the same cannot be said about the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Tampa Bay Lightning had been on a run of extremely good luck over the course of their last ten games. Despite the injuries and all the other kinds of adversity the team has dealt with over the course of the 2016-17 season, the Lightning had managed to bring home points in nine of their previous 10 games.
Considering the kind of season the Lightning has found themselves embroiled in this season, this is an excellent showing for the team. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and this is exactly what happened to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the PPG Paints Arena.
The Tampa Bay Lightning got off to a good start. While they seemed to really lack in the shots on goal department in the first half of the first period, the simple fact they were able to hold the Penguins to half of their total was a miracle in itself. Unfortunately, this would be short-lived as the game progressed.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Other than a lot of back-and-forth between these two vastly different teams, there was not much to speak of in the first period; especially when it comes to shots on goal and, well…goals. When the buzzer finally sounded to end the first period of play, the Bolts and the Pens would be tied at 9 shots on goal apiece.
Thankfully, when the Lightning hit the ice for the second period of play, they were able to kick things into gear and capitalize on a beautiful opportunity. Thanks to some gritty play by Cedric Paquette and a stellar pass from Vladislav Namestnikov, Lightning rookie Adam Erne would score his first-ever NHL goal to open up the scoring.
Unfortunately, this would essentially be the end of the happily ever after for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Steel City. The remainder of the second period would see not one, but two unanswered goals from Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin. Of course, this should’ve been expected at this point in the game.
There is no realm in which you leave Evgeni Malkin all alone in the slot and expect him not to make a play. It’s not rocket science, it’s simple fact. On his first goal, Lightning defenseman Braydon Coburn was so involved with what was happening to the right of the net he didn’t even see Malkin open behind him.
When the buzzer sounded once again, this time to end the second period, it was almost like an act of mercy towards the Tampa Bay Lightning. In the second period of play, the Penguins held the Lightning to a mere eight shots on goal for a two-period total of 24-17 in favor of the Pens.
The Tampa Bay Lightning would strike once again when these two teams hit the ice for the third period of play. The Lightning would find themselves on a Power Play as they were finishing off the final minutes of the Kuhnhackl penalty from the second period.
Jonathan Drouin would race into the zone with the puck. As he made it towards the end boards, he would quickly pass the puck back to Nikita Kucherov. Kucherov wasted no time in drawing his stick back and went top shelf on Murray to tie the game up for the Bolts.
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Unfortunately, this would be the last time the Bolts would have a reason to cheer for the remainder of the game. Ironically enough, the game-winning goal came from a player who is rather familiar to Lightning fans. Just 1:28 seconds after Kucherov’ goal, the Pens would come back with a goal from defenseman Mark Streit.
For those of you unfamiliar with Streit’s name, the Tampa Bay Lightning acquired Streit from the Philadelphia Flyers on Deadline Day in exchange for Lightning center Valtteri Filppula and a Fourth and a Seventh Round Pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. Lightning Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman turned around and traded Streit to the Penguins in exchange for a Fourth Round Pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.
We’re sure there is something poetic about this, but our intellect is rather clouded by anger and disappointment at the moment. We’re sure we’ll think of something right after we’re done here. It’s how it always works, right?
Regrettably, for the Lightning, the Mark Streit goal seemed to be the nail in the coffin of the Lightning’s game. The Bolts would attempt to rally as the third period progressed, but they would be met with a Power Play goal from Justin Schultz and an empty-netter from Tom Kuhnhackl. When the final buzzer sounded, the Lightning would fall to the Penguins by the score of 5-2.
It would be easy, and incredibly lazy, to lay the blame for this game on newly-acquired goaltender Peter Budaj. The fact of the matter is, Budaj came up big when the Lightning needed him the most. Unfortunately, the defense left him out to dry on many occasions and the offense simply couldn’t put any real pressure on the Pens.
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The Lightning played a pretty horrific game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night, but somehow the Lightning managed to take the game to overtime and essentially rob the Hurricanes blind. Unfortunately, this same theory doesn’t work against the Stanley Cup Champions.
The Tampa Bay Lightning rolled the dice and unfortunately came up with a mighty good run of bad luck. After tonight’s game, the Lightning is now five points out of a Wild Card spot and six points out from the third place spot in the Atlantic Division.
Time is running out, and if the Bolts want to find themselves involved in postseason play, they are going to have to let their old habits go by the wayside and start playing the kind of hockey Lightning fans know in their hearts the team is capable of achieving.
Tomorrow night, the Tampa Bay Lightning hope to get back on track with a victory over the Buffalo Sabres at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo. The Sabres are just one point behind the Lightning in the standings and a victory for the Sabres would mean a shift in the wrong direction for the Bolts.
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Here’s hoping the next 24 hours are enough time for the Lightning to shake off the loss and get their heads in the game. While the Sabres may not be the best team in the National Hockey League, it’s when you start underestimating your opponent you essentially defeat yourself in battle