Thursday night’s game was an ugly one. The Tampa Bay Lightning extended their point streak to five consecutive games as they munched another early season point with an overtime loss to the Blue Jackets in Columbus. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak. But it also snapped a streak of well-played defensive games. The Bolts were somewhat a defensive nightmare against the Jackets. Tonight, they looked to right the ship and get back to the solid defensive play fans have been seeing since their week off earlier this month. The defense would certainly need to step up as tonight’s opponent has a reputation as one of the league’s top defensive teams. In a rematch of the 2020 Stanley Cup Final, the Dallas Stars rolled into town to face off against the Lightning at Amalie Arena.
Turning on the AC in Period One
Anthony Cirelli opened the scoring early into this one. Line-mate Brandon Hagel found him open in front and Cirelli drilled home his seventh of the season just 4:09 into the opening period.
🗣️ “SCORRRREEEE!!!!!”
Hagel feeds the hot hand! Cirelli with another goal!#DALvsTBL
🎧: https://t.co/S6Y9TymMk9
📻: @1025TheBone pic.twitter.com/GGZWVeIcQB— Lightning Audio Network (@BoltsRadio) November 24, 2024
The Lightning defense did not look much improved early on. Just two minutes after Cirelli’s opening goal, the Stars came roaring back. Evgeni Dadonov scored on a seeing-eye shot that trickled past Andrei Vasilevsky.
But just two and half minutes later, Cirelli would strike again! This time, he found the loose puck in front of the net and tucked in his eighth of the season.
“CIRELLI! ANOTHER ONE!!!!!”
Cirelli strikes twice to put the Lightning ahead again!#DALvsTBL
🎧: https://t.co/S6Y9TymMk9
📻: @1025TheBone pic.twitter.com/3GCfl5rSi7— Lightning Audio Network (@BoltsRadio) November 24, 2024
The Bolts managed to hold the lead for over seven minutes this time. But Miro Heiskanen’s shot sailed past Vasilevskiy to tie the game at 2-2. And that was how the team would go to the dressing room after 20 minutes.
Bolts Improve on Defensive Woes in Second
In the second period, the Bolts did something they had not done since the third period in Pittsburgh Tuesday night. They held their opponent off the scoreboard! Unfortunately, they did something they hadn’t done since the second period in Pittsburgh… they went a full period without scoring a goal of their own. Both teams tightened up the defense and we remained tied at 2-2 after forty minutes.
Defensive Woes Rear Their Ugly Head in Third
Things were looking up as the Lightning managed to hold their opponents off the scoreboard in period two. However, it did not last long into the third. After some decent offensive pressure, the Bolts gave up an outnumbered attack and Matt Duchene made no mistake in burying his 11th of the season. The Stars had their first lead of the game. Just seconds later, the Lightning would take another penalty and Roope Hintz tallied his eighth of the season on the man advantage to double the Dallas lead to 4-2.
The defensive lapses of the third period proved to be too much for the Bolts to overcome as they dropped this game by a 4-2 final. Their five-game point streak comes to an end as they drop to 10-7-2 on the season.
Three Stars
1- Matt Duchene- game winning goal, 2 points
2- Anthony Cirelli- 2 goals
3- Miro Heiskanen- 1 goal
Up Next
The Lightning will look to get back into the win column as the homestand continues with the Colorado Avalanche coming to town on Monday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm.
