3
0
Low energy Bolts see win streak snapped.
TB-1
DET-2
Andrei Vasilevskiy allowed just two goals on 35 shots for the victory. Did everything humanly possible to get the Lightning out of Motown with at least a point tonight, just about.
First Period
8:45 TB Hedman (9), (Kucherov, Point)
18:29 DET Raymond (13), (Larkin, Perron)
Second Period
8:58 DET Sprong (12), (Compher)
Third Period
NO SCORING
Vasilevskiy was the game’s third star.
The Lightning had just ten shots on goal through the first 40 minutes of the context. T-e-n. They were able to manufacture a win in Buffalo with similar anemic output, but it’s simply not sustainable to get through road games barely testing the opposition’s defense and goaltender. It’s like the team, on the road, sleepwalks waiting for their power play opportunities instead of taking the game by the throat and making their own breaks at evens. It’s not good enough and it’s a lot of the reason why the last year and a half of Lightning hockey has been so uneven to watch.
Given the Lightning’s standings position, they can’t let this hiccup tonight snowball into a losing streak of any duration. The urgency the team did have in the Third Period needs to carry over next time out.
Waltteri Merela had 1 hit and 1 blocked shot in 6:32. We might just about be at the point to call the Merela heater over.
Max Crozier had 1 hit and 1 blocked shot in 11:22. Rookies get stapled to the bench in low scoring, close games.
Emil Lilleberg was -1 with 1 shot, 2 hits, and 1 blocked shot in 13:49. See what I said about Crozier.
Box score and extended statistics from NHL.com.
