Lightning has a rare defensive lapse in loss to the Blues
The Lightning played great hockey for 58 of 60 minutes. They outshot the Blues 42-26. Played their typical physical game kept the Blues in check most of the game.
From the 11:30 mark to the 12:45 mark of the first period the Lightning had one of those mental lapses where they seemed to forget what they were supposed to be doing defensively as they allowed three St. Louis goals.
A Robert Thomas goal gave the Blues a 1-0 lead at the 11:30 mark of the first period. Thirty eight seconds later, a goal by Alexander Steen made it 2-0 Blues. Then, Vladimir Tarasenko scored his 29th of the season at the 12:45 mark of the period and that gave the Blues a 3-0 lead
There has not been a lot to complain about with this Lightning team this season, but with the playoffs approaching it goes to show how important it is to play a solid 60 minutes and maintain focus and intensity the whole game.
That one minute and fifteen second lapse cost the Lightning this game.
The Lightning battled back and cut the lead to 4-2 as Brayden Point scored his 40th goal of the season. Stamkos added his 39th of the season at the 4:46 mark of the third period to cut the Blues lead to 4-3 and it looked like The lightning would find a way to pull this one out.
Stamkos thought he had his 40th of the season which would have been a Lightning power play goal with 5:43 to go ,but after a video review it was determined that Braydon Point’s skate entered the offensive zone just a hare ahead of the puck and the goal was disallowed.
The Lightning have already clinched home ice advantage throughout the playoffs by winning the presidents trophy, but you want to be playing the game in such a way that you hit the playoffs at full stride.
This will also be a first for the Lightning as they will have three 40 goal scorers this season. Braydon Point notched his 40th of the season in the 4-3 lose to the Blues. Steven Stamkos scored his 39th of the season last night, and Nikita Kucherov has 37 goals on the season. With six games remaining both players should easily hit that 40 goal mark.
Head Coach Jon Cooper got his 300th career win against Carolina earlier in the week. Cooper became the all-time winningest coach in Lightning history earlier this season and will continue to add to his totals the rest of the season.
The Lightning only have two home games the rest of the season and both are coming up this week, Monday against Boston and then Saturday the 30th against the Capitals.
The Lightning will then be on the road the last week of the season and will visit Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Boston.
The Lightning need four wins to tie the 95-96 Detroit Red Wings all time win total in a season with 62. Five wins the rest of the way and the Lightning would set a new season single record for most wins in NHL history With 63.
