There's really not much that can be put into this article to put into words the anger and confusion that Lightning fans are feeling right now. Four blown leads to the Maple Leafs in the past six games between the 2023 playoffs and 2023-24 regular season, this one coming on a 6-5 overtime loss to drop the Lightning to 5-3-4.
Here's what the lines looked like, with forward Tyler Motte making his return to the lineup and Mikey Eyssimont being the odd man out:
Hagel-Point-Kucherov
Stamkos-Paul-Sheary
Motte-Cirelli-ABB
Jeannot-Glendening-Watson
Hedman-Cernak
Sergachev-Raddysh
de Haan-Perbix
Johansson
Here are three things that we noticed from the game.
Start Your Engines
The 42 minutes that followed the first period were absolutely awful. But don't let that take away from how dominant the Lightning were in the first. After giving up the first goal of the game, they rattled off for straight goals, including two power-play, goals, and chase goaltender Ilya Samsonov from the game. Braden Point once again had a goal, and Nikita Kucherov put up another four-point period. Everything was looking great, until it wasn't.
Puck Possession?
The Lightning have played four overtime games so far this season, and have not controlled the puck for a single second in three of those games. This team has lost eleven straight overtime games between the past two regular seasons and last years' playoffs.
Jon Cooper said in his post game press conference that the team was sitting back and watching the Leafs turn it up a notch. This is an unacceptable statement from a coach who has done every possible thing over his decade plus career in Tampa.
When it comes to overtime, the nonsense of not gaining a single second of possession in three of the four games, the style of coaching need to change if the Lightning are going to bank points and keep pace in the Atlantic division.
Return of the Motte
In his first action since opening night against the Nashville predators, Tyler Mott looked likethe best all-around player for the Lightning. Even though he didn't put up the points like Point or Kucherov did, Motte was engaged in every single facet of the game, forcing turnovers, generating scoring chances, and being an absolute pest on the penalty kill.
Just in the way that he conducted himself throughout the game, it was evident that the Lightning missed Motte's presence while he was gone. A player like him could be extremely vital to this team this season, with his versatile play and veteran leadership.
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