Insider: Winnipeg Jets 2, Tampa Bay Lightning 1 (OT)
The Tampa Bay Lightning entered Thursday nights game against the Winnipeg Jets looking to not only extend their win streak to six games, but to inch ever so closer to getting back in to the playoff race and help dictate the direction the team would take moving closer to the trade deadline. The Lightning played well, and probably deserved a better fate, but the win streak was snapped as they lost in overtime, 2-1. The Lightning had the ice tilted in their direction most of the night, but just ultimately just could not grab hold of the game at the end.
“It’s obviously very disappointing not getting two points,” Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman said. “I think we had a lot of opportunities to score more goals than one, so its obviously disappointing, but we got one point…we cant bear ourselves down. We have to move forward; two big games coming up at home.”
The Good: Mathieu Garon. If not for Garon early in the first period, the Jets may have run away with this game. Garon made multiple point blank saves, including one on Jets forward Evander Kane, that really allowed the Lightning to keep it close.
Victor Hedman. Hedman, in his second game since returning from a concussion, scored the game tying goal midway through the third period on a beautiful rush up the ice. Hedman also contributed 20:54 of ice time and looks like he has not missed a beat out there for the Lightning.
The Bad: The Inability To Score: The Lightning had multiple chances to put this game away, and just could not find a way to beat Winnipeg goaltender Ondrej Pavelec. The Lightning also hit a post and missed a couple chances at a wide open net. In recent previous games, this had not been an issue, and it will be something the Lightning need to put behind them quickly heading into the game against Florida.
The Power Play. Stop me if you have heard this before. The Lightning had a chance to get the go ahead goal on a power play late in the third period, and really had trouble generating much of anything. When they did generate shots, they were blocked. They even had difficulty keeping possession in their own zone. If there ever was a time where they needed a goal, that was the moment.
Odds and Ends: Full House: Scouts from eight teams scheduled to be in house to take in the game. The following teams were represented in the Tampa Bay Times Forum press box on Thursday night: Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins (two scouts), Los Angeles Kings, Vancouver Canucks, Montreal Canadiens, Dallas Stars, Ottawa Senators, and Detroit Red Wings.
Good News On The Injury Front: The team announced post game that Dana Tyrell had successful surgery with no complications
Up Next: The Lightning continue the all important home stand when cross state rival and division leader Florida comes to town. Face off in that one is at 7pm
Tags: Tampa Bay Lightning
