In the final game of a two-game series the Tampa Bay Lightning welcomed in the team which currently holds last place in the western conference, the Arizona Coyotes. These two teams faced off in Glendale on December 14th, a game the Lightning won 4-1.
For the first time this season goalie Louis Domingue would face his former team the Arizona Coyotes. In their last four games the Tampa Bay Lightning have won three of those games, the only loss came Saturday night to the New Jersey Devils. With the regular season ticking away, the Bolts need to find the early season groove if they hope for a long playoff run.
Captain held out for at least one game
Heading into tonight’s game, head coach Jon Cooper announced Lightning Captain Steven Stamkos wouldn’t play. While it’s being called a “Day to Day” injury Cooper referred to it as more as body maintenance.
Cooper says Steven Stamkos won’t play tonight vs. Arizona, called it “more maintenance” for him than anything. “Hopefully a little rest here will help him out.” Said it’s nothing long term to be concerned with. #Bolts
— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) March 26, 2018
Domingue faces a familiar foe
Back on November 14th the Lightning acquired goalie Louis Domingue. Before being acquired by the Bolts, Domingue had played in seven games, started five and lost six. Since getting to Tampa he is 6-2 and has won four straight games he has played in. With Andrei Vasilevskiy securely placed as the Lightning’s starting netminder, Domingue doesn’t have a franchise on his shoulders. The change of scenery has seemed to work out well for one of the Lightning’s back-up goalies. His goals against average went from 4.33 with Arizona to 2.84 with Tampa.
Second period goes to the Coyotes
Domingue has made his fair share of mistakes, this defense has let both goalies down. Tonight, in the second period they allowed Trevor Murphy to get a goal to open the scoring off a bad angle shot giving Arizona a 1-0 lead. Then about six and a half minutes later the defense completely fell apart. Jakob Chychrun took advantage of a struggling Lightning defensive unit and put the Coyotes up 2-0
Not ready for the playoffs
While the Lightning have been one of if not the best teams in the NHL this season, since the end of December they don’t seem nearly as hungry as they were to start the season. Players are gripping their sticks way too tightly causing an inability to get good shots on net, and the team as a whole depends too much on the goaltending. The way they’ve played in the last twenty games (13-6-1) has been extremely misleading. Had the Lightning gotten into the playoffs last season they would have been dangerous., this season they seem to be limping in. Say what you want, but this is not a team primed for a long playoff run. They peaked way to early and being at the top so long they seem to have become complacent. The vicious dog they had in them last season, as they fought for a playoff spot needs to return. They need to treat every single game that remains on the schedule like they need to win them to get in. Teams who make long playoff runs get hot at the right time, and right now they aren’t even luke warm.
Third period doesn’t go Lightning’s way
Brendan Perlini’s goal would at first be disallowed, but then upon review the referee’s determined there was no goalie interference and allowed the goal for a 3-0 lead, The Lightning’s lone goal of the night came courtesy of Nikita Kucherov, who this week lost his grip at the top of the points list this week. Clayton Keller would notch his 23rd goal of the season on an empty netter with Domingue on the bench.
Next Up..
The Tampa Bay Lightning head to Boston to face the team that’s right on their heels in the Atlantic Division the Bruins.
Three Stars of the Game
3rd Star – Nikita Kucherov: Scored the Lightning’s lone goal on the PP in the 3rd period.
2nd Star – Trevor Murphy: Opens the scoring in the second with his first ever NHL goal.
1s Star – Antti Raanta: Stopped 19 or 20 shots he faced in the game
