Since the overtime win against the Stars in Dallas last Thursday, the Tampa Bay Lightning have dropped two straight games. If that wasn’t enough, their performance this weekend against Utah and Las Vegas left a lot to be desired. Last night against the Golden Knights was dismal. Saturday’s game in Utah had untested Brandon Halverson in net for Tampa but last night it was Andrei Vasilevskiy in net. Different goalie, same lackluster play, same result. As good as that OT win was in Dallas, the team has done a 180 since. No word describes it better. They are playing without luster. No excitement, no intensity, going through the motions. If their lackluster play continues, they will limp into the postseason.
Bounce Back Opportunity
The loss to Utah on Saturday was a huge missed opportunity for the Lightning. Both teams they are chasing in the Atlantic Division lost that night. Florida and Toronto were two points ahead of Tampa. Had the Lightning won, there would have been a three way tie for first. Instead, all three teams lost.
Playing the second of the back to back in Vegas last night was another opportunity for the Lightning to make up some divisional ground. A win ties them with Toronto and puts both of them just two points behind the Panthers. With Vasilevskiy in net, their chances were good. Until the game actually started.
The first half of the first period was turning into a good game. Still scoreless with both teams getting good scoring chances. Then the bottom dropped out. Just after the 11 minute mark of the period, Nicholas Roy scored a power play goal to open the scoring. Then about 90 seconds later, the Knights’ Tomas Hertl blasted a slap shot past Vasilevskiy to make it 2 – 0 Vegas.
Just before the end of the first period, Vegas scored a back breaking goal. Jack Eichel slapped a shot past Vasilevskiy to make it 3 – 0. So much for the opportunity to bounce back.
A Wisp of a Chance
The second period was a battle of attrition. Neither team scored for the first 17 minutes of the period. At least the Lightning seemed determined not to give Vegas another goal. Then Nick Paul scored on a snap shot past Vegas goaltender Ilya Samsonov. This made it 3 – 1 Vegas and giving the Lightning and their fans some hope.
Dave Mishkin calls Nick Paul’s goal pic.twitter.com/BU5cwU8wXE
— Bucs Rays Bolts (@BucsRaysBoltsYT) March 24, 2025
The second period ended that way with Tampa in a two goal deficit. One more period to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Lackluster Play Seals the Deal
If there was any fight in the Lightning they would have to show it in the final regulation period. Instead, this vaunted offensive team The Lightning are second in the league in points per game and top ten (9th) in shots per game. In a period where they needed a goal or two, they could barely come up with a shot.
Just past the 16 minute mark, with the score still 3 – 1, coach Jon Cooper pulled Vasilevskiy for the extra skater. It mattered not. Vegas scored an empty net goal by Nicholas Hague sealing the Lightning fate. Sure they mustered up enough to score a power play goal with five seconds left in the game by Nikita Kucherov. Still, the game was lost 4 -2.
Three Stars
- Ilya Samsonov – Saved 27 of 29 shots for a 93.1% save percentage
- Tomas Hertl – 1 goal and he won 8 of 9 face offs
- Nick Paul – 1 goal and at plus 1 for the game
What’s Next
Tuesday night at Amalie Arena against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Puck drops at 7:00 pm.
