The Tampa Bay Lightning (7-2-1) fell to the Arizona Coyotes (5-5) 7-1 in a blowout loss on Saturday night in Arizona.
The Coyotes scored early and often against a Lightning team ending the longest road trip of the season, and playing the second night of a back-to-back. A day after knocking off the defending Western Conference Champion Las Vegas Golden Knights in a hard fought contest on Friday, the Bolts had one of those games that happen to every team in the course of a 82-game season.
After Jordan Oesterle, Clayton Keller and Derek Stepan scored in a three-goal first period, it was Vinnie Hinostroza and Michael Grabner scoring twice in the second period to make it 5-1. Adam Erne came through with a power play goal in the third period, but the Coyotes had two more goals from Michael Grabner and Richard Panik to secure the 7-1 rout.
The Lightning look to shake off the rust in this one quickly as they return home for a two-game set that begins Tuesday night against the New Jersey Devils. Puck drop is set for 7:30 and pregame coverage gets underway at 6:30 on News Radio 970 WFLA from Amelie Arena on Tuesday.