You get nights light these with a team still trying to figure it out. In a 3-1 loss to a team the Lightning need to learn to squash, Tampa Bay was beaten soundly.
It happens in an 82 game schedule, you'll have an off night or two. Even the Penguins have clunkers.
For a young hockey team like the Lightning, every single opportunity at two points is crucial.
On this night, against the 5-12-5 Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay's top players decided to take a vacation and watched two of those precious standings points disappear.
Alex Tanguay, Steven Stamkos, and Ryan Malone had two shots on goal between them. Vincent Lecavalier did put five shots on goal, but he was "Bad Vinny" in this one, not really giving the effort his team knows he can provide.
It was a performance where Steve Downie was the best player on the ice for the Lightning. Even Martin St. Louis, who had the Bolts only goal, was missing his usual sparkplug "oomph".
"I am a little disappointed in some of the top guys," Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Rick Tocchet said. "Some of our other top guys just didn't show up tonight."
Even their opponent ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by JC De La Torre
Young Bolts Still Learning How To Win Consistently
November 22nd, 2009 by JC De La Torre Leave a reply »
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