As it turns out, perhaps it was the high-scoring game that was the aberration for the Tampa Bay Lightning, not the slump that has defined much of the early part of this season.
The Lightning’ offense went missing again Tuesday night in a 2-1 loss to Detroit, the fourth time in th last five games the Bolts have scored one or fewer goals.
The team had hoped it had broken out of that slump in a 4-3 victory over Carolina Sunday, but otherwise, the team has scored only three goals in five games.
This time, Nikita Kucherov scored the only goal for the Lightning, which hit three posts in the third period. For Detroit, Dylan Larkin and Riley Sheahan scored for the Red Wings, both on shots that you would have expected goaltender Ben Bishop to stop.
“If you give up two or less, you should be winning,” said coach Jon Cooper. “We’re losing them at an alarming rate.”
Last year, the Lightning was 35-3-3 when holding its opponents to two pr fewer goals. This year, they are 3-3-1.
The Lightning plays at Buffalo Thursday and at Minnesota Saturday.
