Lightning Losing Skid Continues, Stunned by Hurricanes 6-0

Though 37-21-5 and third in the Atlantic Division, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s losing skid continues after dropping six of their last seven games.

Final.

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) March 5, 2023

Sunday Scaries

After putting up little to no fight against a high-pressured offense in the Carolina Hurricanes, the Lightning laid a goose egg on Sunday in a 6-0 loss. It was a sample size of their recent struggles.

First 2 Periods: The Lightning allowed the Hurricanes to hold possession of the puck for a majority of the opening two periods.

During that span, Tampa Bay managed to get off four shots on goal and only 17 total attempts. This was in part to Bolts defenseman Victor Hedman being injured in the second period, causing the Lightning to play with only 5 defensemen.

We had 2 more goals that period than they had shots pic.twitter.com/au2pO3C3kY

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) March 5, 2023

Third Period:  The Lightning would continue to play catch up, as Mikhail Sergachev also missed some time after he blocked a shot in the third period. He stayed on the bench before re-entering towards the end of the game when Carolina’s Teuvo Teravainen scored his third goal to complete the hat trick on the night.

But this made no difference as the Hurricanes poured it on with their sixth goal, coming from Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

The Bolts would finish the game with a season-low 14 shots on goal, the fourth-lowest shot total in a game in franchise history. Tampa Bay hasn’t won a game since Feb. 25, and is now in the longest losing skid since March of 2014.

The Team Speaks

Following the game, head coach Jon Cooper expressed the frustration of the stagnant progress in a statement reported by Chris Krenn:

“We’re in a rut right now,” Cooper said, “At some point, you just have to work your way out of it. You show some signs of yourselves getting out of it. Then, all of a sudden, you take 1 step forward, 2 steps back. At some point here, we’ve got to take 1 step back, 2 steps forward.”

Veteran center Steven Stamkos, also weighed in on what can be done to turn their season around:

Stamkos on getting out of the skid. pic.twitter.com/eqxhp6l6fd

— Chris Krenn (@Chris_Krenn) March 5, 2023

Up Next

The Lightning (37-21-5) are looking for confidence and a new groove as they begin a four-game home stand as they take on the Philadelphia Flyers (24-28-11) at Amalie Arena tomorrow, March 7, at 7 pm.