Lightning’s skid continues against Panthers

by Gary Shelton on March 1, 2023

in general

Point scored his 37th goal./TIM WIRT

Wednesday, 4 a.m.

Maybe the Tampa Bay Lightning needs to make another trade. Maybe two.

After all, they have some draft picks left from late in the decade, right?

Don't look now, but the Lightning is in a swoon. They have now lost three of their last four games, the latest an 4-1 loss on Tuesday night, and the one they won took a 45-save shutout from Andrei Vasilevskiy. In their last three losses, the Bolts have given up 17 goals. In their last four games, they've given up 173 shots.




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Stamkos says the Bolts must be better./TIM WIRT

And it has left a once-proud team reeling.

"We’re getting outplayed like every game," said Lightning coach Jon Cooper. "We’ve got to look ourselves in the mirror. Our formula hasn’t changed. It's a little troubling what’s going on.

"Our execution sucks right now. I don’t know what’s going on. We can’t make three consecutive passes and I can’t figure out why.".

Against the Panthers, the Bolts gave up three goals (four, but one was disallowed) in the first period.

The Bolts also had two goals disallowed, one for offsides and one for goaltender interference.

Brandon Point scored the only goal that stood up.

"We didn’t make the plays," said captain Steven Stamkos. "It’s been a tough stretch. We’re  not playing well enough. We’re not executing well enough. It’s on us as players to demand more of ourselves and be better. That’s a disappointing one. That’s not acceptable."

The Bolts play another team on the edge of the playoffs when Pittsburgh comes to town on Thursday at 7 p.m.


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