Despite season-crippling loss, Lightning vow they still have fight left in their game

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
March 22, 2017

TAMPA, Fla. – Tuesday was bad. Like bad, bad.

Can’t lose to the Arizona Coyotes on March 21 when you sit four points out of a playoff spot. Can’t get swept in a two-game season series to a team that sits 29th overall in league standings and expect to even be considered as a playoff candidate.

Yet, Tampa Bay failed to hold on to a lead entering the third period and didn’t have the look of a team committed to winning the game even as it was a billed as a must-win game.

”There’s been a lot of frustrating games this year, his ranks up there though just with how important the game is to us,’’ Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. “That 3-2 lead at home going into the third in a must-win for us. To give it up like we did, it’s frustrating to say the least.’’

Now, with only 10 games on the schedule remaining, every game is a must-win.

Just don’t expect the Lightning to give up, even if all it takes is one last tap of the hammer to drive the final nail in to the coffin of the season.

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Nobody is ready to waive the white flag knowing there is still a chance for a miraculous finish.

”There’s still a lot of games left,’’ defenseman Victor Hedman said. “We’re obviously disappointed with the result tonight, but we can’t lay down. We can’t fold. We’ve just got to refocus. We know we’re playing Boston twice. We know they lost tonight. Still opportunities left before us, but obviously we’ve got to straighten things out.’’

That first of two remaining games against Boston comes on Thursday (7 p.m., Fox Sports Sun, 970-AM, tblpowerplay.com as Tampa Bay heads to a building where the Lightning have won six games – SIX – regular season games all-time.

To increase that to seven victories all-time, Tampa Bay has to conjure up the formula used during a 12-2-3 stretch that pulled the Lightning up from the bottom of the conference standings and in to a tie for the final playoff spot, which Tampa Bay occupied on March 14 following an overtime victory at Ottawa.

Since then, the Lightning have dropped three consecutive games, allowing five goals in each of those losses. During the 17 game stretch, Tampa Bay allowed more than three goals just twice.

”Three-straight games with giving up five goals is not going to win you a lot of games,’’ Hedman said.”We’ve all got to refocus and focus on winning games 1-0, 2-1. … Still opportunities left before us, but obviously we’ve got to straighten things out’’

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