The good start by the Tampa Bay Lightning seems like only a distant memory.
The Lightning lost its third consecutive game Sunday night in a 6-1 clobbering at the hands of the New York Rangers.
After a scoreless first period, the Rangers scored four in the second period. Michael Grabner scored the third hat trick of his career in the win.
โIt’s a test,โ said Lightning coach Jon Cooper. โBut let’s pump the brakes. It’s game nine. If it was game 79, we might be a little alarmed. Let’s see how these guys pull themselves out of this.โ
Cooper pointed out that breakaways and odd-man rushes led the New York effort.
โAll of our players got in the passenger’s seat,โ Cooper said. โNo one got in the driver’s seat.โ
The Lightning only scored in the third period when Steven Stankos scored on the power play.
Tampa Bay is at the New York Islanders Tuesday night before returning home to play the Boston Bruins on Thursday.
