The Lightning lost to the Vancouver Canucks, 5-4 in a shootout.
Lots to talk about in this game. Tonight had pretty much every part of the up-and-down season for the Bolts. There was bad defense, bad goaltending, bad power play, good Steven Stamkos, the ability to fight back late in games, a good third period at home, and failure in the shootout.
Once again, it seemed like every time the Lightning scored to narrow the gap, the Canucks would come back and score their own goal. Heck, the Lightning scored with about 35 seconds left in the second period, and the Canucks scored with 1 second left. However, the Lightning were able to pick up two goals in the third to tie it up, the tying goal coming from Ryan Malone, who knocked the puck in with his skate and the goal somehow stood. Should it have been overturned? No; there was no obvious kicking motion. But I think everyone in Tampa Bay was expecting the reviewers in Toronto, generally not Florida-friendly, to call it a no-goal, especially against a Canadian team. Luckily, the goal stood, and the Bolts picked up a point.
Both teams had some good opportunities in OT, but the game went to a shootout, where the Canucks won 1-0. Roloson was beat on a tough spin-o-rama, and Malone, Dominic Moore, and Stamkos were stonewalled in their attempts. I have no idea why our shooters continue to either shoot to the glove side or to get in too close before attempting to go top shelf; shootouts have been a problem for a few years now, you think they'd be working on it more.
It was good to get a point in a game that seemed lost, but it's tough to get excited about this inconsistent team right now.
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