The Tampa Bay Lightning lost to the New Jersey Devils 2-1.
The Lightning came out flat, and didn’t really improve until the third period. They were outshot by the Devils 27-16. Stop and think about that for a second. Tampa Bay was outshot by a team coached by Jacques Lemaire – the guy who popularized the trap style of hockey.
I think that pretty much says everything there is to say, really. The only other pertinent piece of information would be that the Devils are the hottest team in the NHL right now. In their past ten games, they’re 9-1-0.
Not a lot happened in this game. There weren’t many shots for most of it, and there were all of four penalties – two for each team – in this game. The Lightning scored on one of their power plays, though the Devils didn’t. And the score was pretty low.
About the only controversy was the Steven Stamkos penalty for goaltender interference.
As according to the rule (Rule 69 for those following at home),
Goals should be disallowed only if: (1) an attacking player, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeper’s ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal; or (2) an attacking player initiates intentional or deliberate contact with a goalkeeper, inside or outside of his goal crease. Incidental contact with a goalkeeper will be permitted, and resulting goals allowed, when such contact is initiated outside of the goal crease, provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such contact.
Stamkos clearly ran into Martin Brodeur outside of the crease. So, according to the rule, he should not have been given a penalty for it. But he was. It was a near thing, which is why the on-ice officials did that. Brodeur was only barely outside of his crease when the contact occurred.
Of course, it does make you wonder why that was called while the New York Rangers goal scored by Brandon Prust was allowed to stand a few days ago.
With this loss, the Tampa Bay Lightning are just three points ahead of the Washington Capitals in the Southeast Division standings.
The next game is tonight at 7 pm Eastern. The Lightning will be at the Boston Bruins. The Raw Charge game thread will open at 6:30 pm – come join us!
Lightning vs Devils recap [TSN]
Lightning vs Devils boxscore [TSN]
Lightning vs Devils coverage [SB Nation]
In Lou We Trust [SB Nation]
