Thursday, 3 a.m.
Perhaps it should be remembered this way: In the end, the Tampa Bay Lightning was one step from a share of first place.
Instead, the Bolts lost a 4-3 overtime game to Toronto Thursday night and stands three points down in the Atlantic Division.
Matthew Knies completed a hat trick as he scored the game winner with 2:56 to play in overtime. The Maple Leafs now have 100 points on the season.
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Toronto scored the first two goals of the game, and the Bolts played chase afterward. Oliver Bjorkstrand tied it at two with 50 seconds left to play in the second period. Victor Hedman tied it at three with a goal with 11:05 to play in the third.
Nick Perbix scored the Bolts’ other goal. Besides Knies, Mitch Marner scored for the Leafs.
The Bolts had several chances in overtime but could not score.
Andrei Vasilevskiy saved 27 of 31shots.
Lightning coach Jon Cooper was disappointed that his team gave up two goals in the first 3:33 of the game.
“It’s tough,” Cooper said. “We just came off an eight-day road trip and came to play a game. For 57 minutes, we leaned on them and they’re a first place team. One of the best teams in the league. When you dig a 2-0 hole, that’s hard to do.
“We had 90-some shot attempts. It’s a little unheard of we only had 28 shots on goal. We missed the goal 25 times. They had 36 blocks. They’re a good shot-blocking team, but not 36. We were a little guilty of not executing some things.”
The Bolts are home Friday night at 7 p.m. against Detroit at Amalie Arena.