There is one incident that summarizes the Lightning at current. It was the final minute of play and I’m not sure who specifically to name as the guilty party — everyone deserves some grief, but there was a specific incident that irked me and cost the Lightning more dearly than they know.
The Lightning had been “attacking” (if you can call it that) the Atlanta empty net with a 2-1 lead. Dainty passes were being made instead of slapshots on the empty goal… Trying the old razzle dazzle (and eat the clock) instead of trying to put the game out of reach with an empty net goal.
Someone — not sure who — on the Lightning gets the puck near the Bolts own blue line. His shift is over and he’s gotta get off ice. Instead of taking a slap shot, he gives a weak dump in pass and gets off ice. It would only be a couple of seconds later that Ilya Kovalchuk would score and force overtime on the Lightning.
The Bolts played a great game. Sean Burke was fantastic between the pipes… This lone incident however left the door open for the Thrashers to remain in the playoff hunt instead of rendering their shot as null and void. The Thrash are 6 points behind the Lightning in the standings and it should be seven instead. Their faint chance of making the playoffs remains alive…
It was a nice win tonight… But letting the Thrashers score in the last 10 seconds of the game to tie it makes me wonder if this team has the instinct at all to repeat as Cup Champions?
