The Tampa Bay Lightning continue to try to get a foothold on their hockey season.
Perhaps a three-game winning streak had convinced you that the Lightning had awakened. Not so much. The Lightning lost their second straight Saturday night, blowing a two-goal lead and falling 3-2 to the New York Islanders.
John Tavares scored the only goal of the third period to snap a 2-2 tie. Tampa Bay had jumped to a lead on a goal by Alex Killorn and, early in the second period, one by Anton Stralman. But Josh Bailey and Cal Clutterbuck scored to tie things.
Tavares’ goal came with 3:36 to play and was the fifth power play goal surrendered by Tampa Bay in two games.
“Naturally you read things and hear that, and I’ve known that for some time,’’ Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said, but I don’t think it’s that if you are not in a playoff spot by Thanksgiving, it’s if you are more than a few points out and we haven’t fallen into that realm so we are feeling a little bit better about ourselves.”
Goaltender Ben Bishop had 19 saves for the Lightning.
Tampa Bay slides to 11-11-2 for the season. They now face a three-game road trip where they will face Anaheim, San Jose and Los Angeles.
