The Tampa Bay Lightning lost to the Winnipeg Jets 3-2.
The game started predictably enough. The Lightning came out fast and hard, skating circles around the Jets. It also ended fairly predictably, with Tampa Bay down 1-0 at the end of things.
The second period had less jump for the Lightning. They played hard, but were unable to convert on the four power plays that they were given. Steven Stamkos scored on one of them, in fact. But they still ended the period down 3-1.
The third period was more of the same as the first – lots of energy, lots of chances. Cory Conacher tipped in a goal to get the team within one, but that’s as close as the Lightning got. Ondrej Pavelec was just too good for them to beat.
Overall, it was what one would expect from a team that’s just fired its coach. They were playing with more emotion, but with the same game plan that hadn’t gotten them very far previously. Of course, there was no time to come up with a new game plan, let alone actually implement one, so that’s all they had to work with.
At this time, it’s only pure speculation as to who that will be, but the next game will likely have a new head coach.
Join us on Tuesday, 26 March, for the next episode of how the Coaching Carosel Turns in Tampa. The Buffalo Sabres will be visiting the Times Forum, and game time is 7:30 pm ET. The Raw Charge support group – I mean, game thread – will be available at 7 pm, so come join us.
Who should replace Guy Boucher as head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning?
| Jon Cooper (Syracuse Crunch – AHL) | 18 |
| Dallas Eakins (Toronto Marlies – AHL) | 4 |
| Lindy Ruff (NHL) | 7 |
| Ulf Samuelsson (SEL) | 2 |
| Other | 1 |
| No clue | 6 |
