Tampa Bay Lightning Game 63: at the Washington Capitals

The Tampa Bay Lightning lost to the Washington Capitals 5-4.

This was the Lightning’s fifth straight loss and has let in five or more goals in those five games. However, it was also Steven Stamkos’s 15-straight game with a point. Steve Downie has a nine-game point streak going on himself. And Vincent Lecavalier broke a six-game pointless streak. So, you take the good with the bad.

Actually, I didn’t think this was a bad game for the Lightning. They stayed in the game with the league-leading Caps, and you really can’t ask for more than that. You’ve got to be able to compete with the team you’re playing with in order to have a chance to beat them, after all.

Frankly, if the team can play like that during the remaining 19 games this season, then they’ll beat most teams.

Other than the first goal that was let in, you really can’t blame Mike Smith for this loss. He kept the Lightning in the hunt, despite letting in five goals. The first one he was a bit shaky on, but the rest were good shots by the other team.

Statistically, it wasn’t a bad game. Martin St. Louis had three assists. Mike Lundin had an insane seven blocked shots, while Andrej Meszaros had four of his own. Stamkos and Lecavalier had six shots each. Vinny had two goals. On five goals allowed, no one was worse than a -2.

The next game is Saturday, 6 March. It’s against the visiting Atlanta Thrashers, who acquired former Lightning player Evgeny Artyukhin at the trade deadline from the Anaheim Ducks. Game time is 7:30 pm Eastern.

Lightning vs Capitals coverage [SB Nation]

Japers' Rink [SB Nation Washington Capitals site]

Lightning vs Capitals recap [TSN]

Lightning vs Capitals boxscore [TSN]