Bolts still look for home ice edge

by Gary Shelton on December 16, 2025

in general

Johansson had a tough night./TIM WIRT

Tuesday, 4 a.m.

Maybe the name-chanage still confuses them.

Maybe that's why the Tampa Bay Lightning can't get a foothold on What's-Its-Name Arema.

The Bolts took on on the nose night, getting thumped by the Florida Panthers 5-2. The Bolts struggled to score, falling behind 4-0 in the loss.

It was nothing new. The Lightning is now a mediocre 8-8 record at home (called Benchmark International, by the way). The Bolts are still fighting for the NHL Atlantic Division lead, but there are six teams in the division that have more home wins.

The Bolts lost eight home games all of last season.

The Panthers jumped to a quick lead when Sam Reinhart scored a shorthanded goal 2:16 into the game. Anton Lundell scored a minute and a half later.

In the second period, Brad Marchand and Reinhart scored the next two goals to make it 4-0. It was Reinhart's 17th goal.

The Lightning tried to get back into the game on goals by Maxwell Crozier (his first) and J.J. Moser. But Carter Verhaeghe closed it out with his 10th goal.

Bolts goalie Jonas Johansson stopped just 19 of 24 shots.

Tampa Bay is home (at Benchmark) at 7 p.m. against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.

Previous post:

Next post: