Bishop, Lightning fall to Bruins (w/video)

TAMPA — There was no excuse for this one.

3 Months Ago

The Lightning, which has been in "desperation mode" for weeks, had every reason to lay it all on the line Tuesday night against Boston. Though Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes have dimmed by the day, it trailed the Bruins by just six points in for third spot in the Atlantic Division.

Crunch time, right?

But Tampa Bay delivered another incomplete effort, falling 4-3 to the Bruins in front of a sellout crowd of 19,092 at Amalie Arena. After a strong first period, the Lightning got outshot 30-10 in the next 35 minutes, coming unglued at the end of the second to blow a one-goal lead in 112 seconds.

"Fifty games, I’m not too mystified anymore — It’s becoming a regular occurrence," coach Jon Cooper said. "How many times do I have to say ‘consistency?’ ”

It was a frustrating way for the Lightning to open a crucial four-game homestand. And the teams it is battling for playoff spots with continue to gain points. New Jersey and Carolina both won, moving ahead of Tampa Bay. The Islanders and Panthers both won to move further ahead.

The Lightning continues to fall.

"You have to be a realist at this point," wing Alex Killorn said. "We come in expecting points. … To not have a consistent effort is unacceptable."

The Lightning held a 1-0 lead midway through the second on the first of two goals by Killorn. But in Supertotobet the waning minutes, after Anton Stralman got slewfooted by Bruins forward Brad Marchand, and Cedric Paquette got hit from behind, Tampa Bay folded. It "fell flat," as Tyler Johnson put it. The Bruins scored twice in the final two minutes, including a deflating buzzer-beater with .9 seconds left by David Krejci.

"We lose our game plan a little bit when we hit a bump and we can’t ride it out," Stralman said.

Said Johnson: "They get two goals like that without even responding. It’s unacceptable. We’ve got to stick up for each other. That just can’t happen."

Neither can Johnson’s pass on his breakaway midway through the third. With the Lightning trailing by one, and Johnson cruising in on Tuukka Rask, the Lightning center dropped a pass back to a trailing Victor Hedman. Johnson thought he had a 2-on-0. It turned into zero shots on goal.

"I screwed up," Johnson said. "Should have been selfish."

Cooper said that mentality has been there too often this year with the Lightning, which registered just 21 shots, second fewest this season.

It still managed to score three goals, though one came by Brayden Point with the extra attacker late in the game.

But goalie Ben Bishop gave up four on 35 shots.

The Bruins played like a team fighting for its playoff spot. And the Lightning didn’t.

"Clearly, we weren’t the same team in the second and the third," Cooper said. "It’s too bad."

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_JSmith.

First Period—None.

Second Period—1, Tampa Bay, Killorn 14 (Hedman, Johnson), 8:41. 2, Boston, Bergeron 12 (Mcquaid, Marchand), 18:08. 3, Boston, Krejci 12 (K.Miller, Marchand), 19:59.

Third Period—4, Tampa Bay, Killorn 15 (Hedman, Johnson), 4:46. 5, Boston, Chara 4 (Beleskey, C.Miller), 7:51. 6, Boston, Vatrano 6 (Krejci, C.Miller), 12:23 (pp). 7, Tampa Bay, Point 4 (Dotchin, Hedman), 17:56.

Shots on Goal—Boston 4-16-15—35. Tampa Bay 8-4-9—21.

Power-play opportunities—Boston 1 of 3; Tampa Bay 0 of 4.

Goalies—Boston, Rask 25-12-4 (21 shots-18 saves). Tampa Bay, Bishop 11-12-3 (35-31).

A—19,092 (19,204). T—2:40

Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.