The Tampa Bay Lightning looks to rebound against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game 2 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Tampa Bay Lightning didn’t exactly get off to the start one would’ve hoped. After a strong first period of play, things seemed to fall apart rather quickly. Four unanswered goals later, the Lightning found themselves with a rather bad taste in their mouth otherwise known as a Game 1 loss.
As much as one would like to scream at the heavens in frustration (and trust me, we have) a loss in Game 1 is not the end of the world. There’s a reason there are seven games in a series. A team is going to lose every now and then. It’s better they get it out of their system now and not have it rear its ugly head in a Game 7.
Now, the Lightning needs to put their loss in Game 1 in the rearview mirror and focus their efforts on the next task at hand. Tonight, the Bolts will charge back into the Amalie Arena in search of a little redemption as they take on the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game 2 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Despite the loss, there were quite a few positives to come out of Game 1 for the Tampa Bay Lightning. First of all, Alex Killorn is in true playoff form. After seizing control of the puck along the blueline in the defensive zone, Killorn raced across the ice and scored the opening goal of the game short-handed.
Also, some of the Lightning’s younger players really stepped up in Game 1. Anthony Cirelli and Yanni Gourde both picked up goals while Erik Cernak, Mikhail Sergachev, and Jan Rutta all picked up assists. The assists by Cernak and Rutta were both career firsts in the postseason.
The Tampa Bay Lightning has a lot of work to do if they want to even the series up before it heads to the Nationwide Arena in Columbus. The Bolts need to refocus their efforts and apply the same pressure in the second and third periods as they do in the first. In other words, consistency is key.
The journey continues in just a matter of hours. While everyone in the Bolts Nation anxiously awaits puck drop, let’s take a closer look at all the information you’ll need to make sure you stay on top of all the action between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game 2 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Game: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Columbus Blue Jackets – Game 2
Venue: Amalie Arena
Location: Tampa, Florida
Date: Friday, April 12, 2019
Start Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Series Lead: Blue Jackets lead series 1-0
TV Info: FOX Sports Sun, CNBC, SN360, TVAS, FS-O
Radio Info: Lightning Radio on 970WFLA or TBL Power Play on iHeartRadio
Live Stream: Fox Sports Go App available in the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Store
The Lightning has shown fans on numerous occasions what they can do when they put their minds to it. Their determination and sheer skill led them to their first-ever Presidents’ Trophy this season. Things are going to get interesting tonight in sunny Tampa, Florida.
Nikita Kucherov led the entire National Hockey League in scoring this season, bringing home 41 goals and 87 assists for a total of 128 points. If he can accomplish this with a clear head, imagine what he can do when he’s even hungrier than usual following a disappointing loss.
The action is set to kick off at the Amalie Arena at 7:00 p.m. It’s going to be exciting to see how the Lightning responds after being shut down following a strong first period of play. There’s a storm brewing here in the Bolts Nation and it won’t be long before Lightning strikes.