The Tampa Bay Lightning has had a few tough games this season, and their loss to the Carolina Hurricanes was no exception. The game ended with a score of 6-0 in favor of the Hurricanes, leaving the Lightning frustrated and struggling to find their footing. However, the game did highlight some key issues that the Lightning will need to address if they hope to come out on top in future matches. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the game and what it means for the Lightning moving forward.
Lightning Lose to Hurricanes, 6-0
The Tampa Bay Lightning faced off against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night, April 19th, in a pivotal matchup for the Central Division. Unfortunately for the Lightning faithful, the Hurricanes came out on top with a commanding 6-0 victory.
First Period
The Hurricanes came out strong in the first period, taking a 2-0 lead within the first ten minutes of the game. Sebastian Aho scored the first goal just 3 minutes into the game, followed by a goal from Jordan Staal at the 9:38 mark. The Lightning struggled to get any offense going, only managing 6 shots on goal compared to the Hurricanes’ 11.
Second Period
The Lightning came out with more energy in the second period, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Hurricanes’ lead. Just over four minutes into the period, Carolina’s Nino Niederreiter found the back of the net for the third goal of the game. The Lightning continued to put pressure on the Hurricanes, but couldn’t catch a break. Despite taking 11 shots on goal in the second period, the Lightning still couldn’t get their first goal of the game.
Third Period
The Hurricanes put the game away in the third period, scoring three more goals to put the final score at 6-0. Vincent Trocheck scored just over a minute into the period, followed by two more goals from Niederreiter and Aho to complete their hat tricks.
Analysis
The Lightning struggled on both sides of the puck in this game, with little to no offense and a shaky defense that allowed six goals. The Hurricanes, on the other hand, played a complete game and showed why they are one of the top teams in the league. Carolina’s goalie, Alex Nedeljkovic, had a stellar performance, stopping all 26 shots he faced for his second shutout of the season.
One notable absence for the Lightning was their captain, Steven Stamkos, who missed his fifth straight game due to a lower-body injury. The team continues to struggle without his leadership and offensive skill.
The loss puts the Lightning in a tough spot in the Central Division standings, now sitting in third place behind the Florida Panthers and the Hurricanes. With just eight games left in the regular season, the Lightning will need to find their groove quickly if they want to make a deep playoff run.
Upcoming Schedule
The Lightning will play the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, April 20th, in their second game of a back-to-back. The game will be crucial for both teams, as the Predators are nipping at the Lightning’s heels in the Central Division standings. The Lightning will need to come out with a much better effort if they want to secure a win and gain some momentum heading into the playoffs.
