For most of the night, the Tampa Bay Lightning did everything right except for score goals as they lost 3-1 to the Arizona Coyotes. Brayden Point logged the lone goal for the Lightning as Jonas Johansson stopped 22 of 25 shots. Michael Carcone scored twice for the Coyotes while Travis Boyd also had the eventual game-winning goal in the second period. Connor Ingram stifled his former organization once again as he stopped 31 of 32 and is now 2-0 against the Lightning with 78 saves on 79 shots.
Along with Johansson getting the start, Alex Barre-Boulet and Haydn Fleury drew back into the line-up with Austin Watson and Calvin de Haan getting the night off.
First Period
It was a period of hockey. Hockey things happened, but there didn’t seem to be much spark in the Lightning’s game. Tampa Bay spent a lot of time in the Arizona zone, but much of it was spent passing it around the perimeter. The shots that came through (and there were 8 of them) didn’t challenge Ingram much as he was able to see them cleanly and didn’t give up too many rebounds.
Arizona was packing the front of the net and blocked 11 shots in the period, but the Bolts were a little off target and sent another 9 attempts wide of the net. Without getting those shots through to the goaltender, it’s hard to generate rebounds or cause the defense to get into scramble mode.
While the Coyotes didn’t spend too much time in the Lightning zone, they managed 8 shots and one of them beat Johansson. A conceded goal is usually the fault of the team in front of the goaltender, but, oh boy, does J.J. want that one back. After an Arizona face-off win, Michael Carcone ended up along the boards, wheeled and just threw the puck on net. There was a screen in front of Johansson, but he also left a lot of room on the short side of the net and that’s exactly where the puck went.
The Bolts did hold them to just six scoring chances and two high-danger chances, so that was a positive. However, they also surrendered the first goal of the game for the 11th time in 12 road games.
Second Period
The good news is that the Lightning finally found the back of the net. The bad news is that they gave up another goal against the run of play. It was another period that was tilted in favor of the Lightning, but Ingram kept bailing out the home team.
Tampa Bay had the first power play of the game but didn’t really manage to put the Coyotes in any sense of danger despite three shots. Right after it expired Travis Boyd created some space off the rush by shimmying around Michael Eyssimont in the neutral zone and then holding the puck until he had a slight screen before ripping a wicked shot past Johansson. It was an absolute quality goal.
The Lightning didn’t get out of their game plan despite being down 2-0. They kept methodically working the puck in the Arizona zone only to see Ingram make the save time and time again. Even when he didn’t stop it, the puck stayed out. Stamkos had an open net, albeit from a sharp angle, that he missed. As the puck went through the crease The Captain looked to the heavens in disbelief.
If there was one player who won’t be denied this year it’s Nikita Kucherov. Victor Hedman started the play in the Lightning zone and Kucherov slingshotted off a bump pass from Brandon Hagel. As Kuch, who played 14:51 through the first two periods, rushed down the right side, he slid a backhand pass to Brayden Point who roofed it over a stretched out Ingram for the goal.
They were a little more on target this period with 13 of their 15 unblocked shots finding the target. It resulted in a bit more scrambling from the Arizona defense.Through 40 minutes of play the Lightning led the high-danger chances 13-4.
Third Period
It was a well-played third period for the Coyotes as they blended aggressive counter-attacks with solid defense in their own zone. Ingram had his best period of the game, as he made several key stops on in-close attempts by the Lightning. He was also bailed out by his post on a Victor Hedman shot late in the game.
By that time, Arizona had reestablished their two-goal lead thanks to another Carcone goal. This time he was able to pick up a loose puck (which was free because Nick Perbix was being stapled against the boards) and dash in front of the net. Johansson tried a sweep check that didn’t work out and it allowed Carcone to tuck a backhand shot into the net.
Give credit to the Coyotes for sagging in the defensive zone and blocking shots. They had 24 blocks and forced another 20 shots wide throughout the night. When the Lightning did get the puck to the front of the net, it was a tangle of sticks and skates that they had to try and weave through.
It was another night where they just couldn’t find that next gear they needed to pull out a victory. It also didn’t help that they took two late penalties while trying to tie things up, effectively killing off the clock.
The Lines
The Goals
Michael Carcone (Michael Kesselring, Alex Kerfoot) 1-0 Coyotes
Travis Boyd (Josh Brown, Connor Ingram) 2-0 Coyotes
Brayden Point (Nikita Kucherov, Brandon Hagel) 2-1 Coyotes
Michael Carcone (Jason Zucker, Alex Kerfoot) 3-1 Coyotes
