By Michael Wax
The Lightning fell for the third game in a row, this time losing 3-2 to the Blues.
Here are three things we saw from the loss:
Welcome To Publix
So far, it’s been an inconsistent, if not disappointing, season for Nick Perbix. The third-year right-handed defenseman has been in and out of the lineup and has put up substandard results when he has played. So, it was nice to see him get on the score sheet.
Receiving a pass in the neutral zone from Anthony Cirelli, Perbix went for a skate, committing a toe drag around Matthew Kessel and beating an outstretched Jordan Binnington.
It still wasn’t the greatest game for the defender, as he was mostly responsible for the 3-1 goal against. Regardless, it was nice to see him finally get on the board offensively and put the skills that we know he has together for a split second.
Compound
On this road trip, every single mistake the Lightning made seem to find its way to the back of the net.
In this one: The Lightning made three costly mistakes. All three of them ended up in their net.
On the first goal, a tired crew was stuck out there for the Lightning, and a nasty rebound from Vasilevskiy made it easy for Sundqvist.
On the second goal, the Lightning couldn't obtain puck possession behind the net and a wide-open Toropcheniko was able to bury it.
On the 3-1 goal, a flat-footed Nick Perbix had no chance against a speeding Schenn or Kyrou, leading to a 2-on-0.
These little mistakes cause significant problems when they aren't addressed. It still remains early enough to where these mistakes can be corrected before they become habits, but time is beginning to run out.
Bigger Than Hockey
Towards the end of the first period, all eyes turned to the St. Louis Blues bench during a stop in play. Forward Dylan Holloway, who had just finished a shift in which he took a Nick Paul shot off the neck area, needed medical attention.
After a few minutes of stabilization, Holloway left the game on a stretcher and was eventually brought to a local medical facility. With just 1:11 left in the first period, both teams mutually agreed to end the period and head to the locker room prematurely.
Thankfully, the Blues themselves reported that the forward was alert and stable after a very scary situation.
Sometimes, we’re reminded that hockey is just a game, and many circumstances occur during the 60 minutes. However, every bit of news since the initial incident has been positive, and hopefully, Holloway will make a speedy recovery.
Comments