Jon Cooper said it. Steven Stamkos said it. Everyone said it.
For the Tampa Bay Lightning, this year was going to be tougher. But this tough? Already? Any tougher, and there would be barbed wire on the ice.
The Lightning (5-5-2) dropped its fourth straight game – in which it has scored only two goals – on Saturday night to the Boston Bruins, 3-1. The Bolts have only two victories in their last year games, and now go on a four-game road trip to Carolina, Detroit, Buffalo and Minnesota.
Tampa Bay has now scored on only two of its last 104 shots.
“It’s frustrating,” said Stamkos. “We can’t go out there and expect to win games because of what happened last year. We’re out of sync and it’s pretty clear when you look at the way we are losing games.
“This is a new season. Teams know what to expect when they play us, and that’s why it’s a challenge each and every year as an individual and as a team. You have to go out there and prove yourself.”
Nikita Kucherov gave the Lightning a lead Saturday night. But Matt Beleskey tied the game, and ex-Bolt Brett Connolly gave them a lead on a five-on-three. Brad Marchand added an empty netter to pad the lead.
