Early Season Struggles Continue for Tampa Bay

Graphic Credit: Mike Smith | Thunderstruck Sports

Nikita Kucherov missed his second consecutive game due to illness and Jonas Johanson was in net for the Lightning as they went into Columbus for the second half of a back-to-back following OT losses in their last two games. Both teams have struggled out of the gate, and Tampa Bay was looking to build off a strong third period against the Red Wings.

The Lighting would get that opportunity early when roughing penalties were handed out just one minute into the game which put Tampa on the power play. While the Bolts got a couple of looks including a laser from Hagel, overall, the power play continued to struggle, as the Lighting finished with just the one shot on net. After some confusion over the penalties was cleared up, gloves were dropped on the ensuing face off as Curtis Douglas squared up with Mathieu Olivier in a heavyweight matchup at the 16:50 mark. Both players traded some big right hands before Olivier got the leverage and took Douglas down. About two minutes

later, Connor Geekie took a big hit behind his own net, and the Lightning turned the puck over in the neutral zone leading to a goal for Kent Johnson on what was the Blue Jackets first shot on net.

The PK continued to be one of the few bright spots for the Lightning early this season as they killed a too many men call. Columbus followed up their power play with a strong push but it was the Lightning who lit the lamp next with a long range wrister from Ryan McDonagh at 7:18. The Blue Jackets had busted coverage allowing the veteran blue liner to come in the zone all alone and fire a shot from the top of the circle that beat netminder Jet Greaves glove side. A late hooking call on Cole Sillinger put the Lighting on the power play at 3:54. It didn’t take long for Anthony Cirelli to net his 3^rd goal of the season with a backhand shot from right in front of the net of assists from Jake Guentzel and Victor Hedman. Period one ended with the Bolts up 2-1 and the shots at 10-6 in favor of Columbus.

The second period was mostly back-and-forth hockey until the 11:09 mark when a puck went in the Lightning net off defenseman Erik Cernak. However, a good challenge from Tampa determined the play was offside, and the score remained 2-1 in favor of the Bolts. The momentum looked to be swinging in favor of the Lighting as Columbus captain Boone Jenner took a slashing call at 10:14 but the early season shooting woes of the Bolts persisted and they failed to get a shot on net. It wasn’t until 6:10 that the Lighting tallied a SOG but it was promptly followed up by a goal from Damon Severson at 6:01 on a great pass from Olivier that tied the game at 2 a piece. The Blue Jackets got their second power play chance when Emil Lilleberg took a high sticking penalty at the 3:11 mark but the Bolts PK did their job and killed it off featuring a couple of highlight saves from Johanson. The second period ended knotted at 2 goals apiece with shots being 25-9 in favor of Columbus.

The Lightning started the third period with a push, but it was Kirill Marchenko that put the Blue Jackets ahead with his fifth goal of the season at 18:45. Jake Guentzel (roughing) and Adam Fantilli (slashing) each picked up minors at the 16:51 mark and the teams played 4 on 4 hockey. Marchenko had a good look on a burst of speed that was clocked at 22 mph, but the penalties expired with the score still 3-2 in favor of Columbus. Following the 4 on 4, Tampa Bay started building some pressure highlighted by a scoring chance for Guentzel at 8:20. Jake

skated right in front of the net and had Greaves on the ice when he looked to have been pulled down from behind, but no call was made. Columbus remained diligent in their own zone and forced several one and done possessions. Jon Cooper pulled Johanson at the 2:00 mark, but Columbus stayed disciplined and held on to secure the 3-2 victory. Shots for the game ended at 31-19 in favor of Columbus.

Up next, the Lightning return home to face the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday and look to use the four days off to solve some of the issues that continue to hold them back early in the season.

3 Stars

1 – K. Marchenko

2 – K. Johnson

3 – D. Severson