Sunday, 5 a.m.
… And one step back.
The on-again, off-again Tampa Bay Lightning lost Saturday night. Of course they did. After all, the team had won Friday, which made it defeat’s turn.
That’s how the season has gone for the Bolts, a team that defies definition. Just when you think the Bolts are good, they will make you change your mind. When you think they’re bad, they’ll surprise you.
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Look at the month that just past. In November, the Bolts had a four-game losing streak, followed by a three-game winning streak, followed by a two-game losing streak. Their last four games are win, lose, win, lose.
This time, the Bolts buried themselves early, falling behind 4-0 before waking up. The Bolts scored three straight in the third period to come within a goal before William Nylander scored at empty-netter to finish things.
The Bolts are giving up far too many goals.
"You can say "nice comeback," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "But when you wake up in the monring, you've got as many points as you had the night before. They didin't lay down, which is good, but that's not going to get us points in the standings."
Victor Hedman had two assists to become the Lightning’s all-time leader in the category.
The Bolts’ three goals came from Mike Eyssimont, Jake Guentzel and Cam Atkinson.
It wasn’t enough. The Maple Leafs scored once in the first period and three times in the second. Bolts’ goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy gave up the four goals on 28 shots.
The Bolts are home against San Jose on Thursday night at 7 p.m.