For the Tampa Bay Lightning, Friday night’s game was one to forget. The Bolts fell behind the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-0 in the first, then gave up a pair of quick goals in their attempt to come back. In the second period, Tampa Bay scored to narrow the deficit to 2-1, but gave up a third goal in 29 seconds. In the third, they fought back to tie the game at 3-3, but gave up a fourth goal 57 seconds…
A successful road trip ended poorly for a tired Tampa Bay Lightning team Monday night. The Bolts lost a 3-1 game to the Nashville Predators Monday night in the final game of a five-game road trip. Tampa Bay won the first four games, but they lacked the jump in their step against Nashville. “It was just one of those games,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. We needed to get the lead, and that was it. We didnāt get it. We…
Once again, the Tampa Bay Lightning took the ice without their captain Thursday night. This time, they skated in the early going as if they missed him. The Lightning started slowly against Buffalo, which started strong in an attempt to end its six-game winless streak. But goaltender Ben Bishop stood up to the onslaught in a game where he stopped 32 of 33 shots to lead the Bolts to their third straight win. āLetās be honest, youāre never going to…
Every time, the Tampa Bay Lightning give the New Jersey Devils a head start. For the second time in three meetings, however, the Bolts came back. Saturday night, Tampa Bay fell behind 1-0 (the smallest lead the Devils have had), but came back to win 4-1. The Lightning had goals from Brian Boyle, Victor Hedman, Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov. Goaltender Ben Bishop stopped 37 of 38 for his fifth win of the year. “It’s an issue,no question” coach Jon…
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. āIt’s a test,ā said Lightning coach Jon Cooper. āBut let’s pump the brakes. It’s game nine. If it was…
At that price, the Tampa Bay Lightning did just fine in holding onto goaltender Ben Bishop Friday night. The Calgary Flames, supposedly deep enough in trade talks with the Lightning to be discussing contract renegotiation, instead traded for St. Louis goaltender Brian Elliott. They gave their second-round pick, 35th overall, for Elliott and a conditional third in 2018. Can you imagine if the Lightning had taken the 35th pick for Bishop. Tampa Bay fans would storm Amalie Arena. The Flames…
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop finished second in the voting as the NHL’s best goaltender. In the end, however, Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals simply won too many games. Holtby won 48 games this season and helped his team to the President’s Cup on his way to winning the Vezina Trophy Wednesday night. Bishop won 35, losing 11 when the Lightning scored two goals or fewer. He led the league in save percentage and in goals against. Bishop…