Monday, 3 a.m.
The season is still young, but one thing about the Tampa Bay Lightning is clear.
They’re asking too much of their green goaltenders.
The Bolts lost their second game in two nights Sunday, falling on the road 5-2 to the Ottawa Senators. So far, the Bolts’ goaltenders have been in a shooting gallery.
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In two games, the Lightning has given up 11 goals and 80 shots.
"We can't be giving up four a night," said Lightning coach Jon Cooper. "That's not a recipe to win. Our goaltenders have been great."
On Sunday, night, Matt Tompkins gave up four (one was an empty netter) on 37 shots. A night before, Jonas Johansson had given up five (and an empty netter) on 41 shots. The two empty net goals brought the total to 80 shots.
That’s too many. It would have been hard enough with regular goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy playing, but fill-in goalies need more help.
The Bolts were tied at 2-2 in this one before Ottawa took over. The Bolts’ goals came by Anthony Cirelli and Tanner Jeannot.
The Senators got two goals from Brady Tkachuk. Vladimir Tarasenko, Tom Stutzle and ex-Bolt Mattieu Joseph had goals.
The Lightning play at the Buffalo Sabres at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.