@jayRecher
Well, it started out well.
A pair of Steven Stamkos power play goals weren't enough as the Tampa Bay Lightning blew a 2-0 lead & were defeated 3-2 by the visiting Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night at Amalie Arena.
Neither team found the back of the net in a scoreless first period. The Flyers did get a power play after a hooking call on the Lightning's Ian Cole, but Tampa Bay killed off the penalty with relative ease.
It didn't take long in the second period for Stamkos to put the Lightning on the board.
Just 1:25 into the middle frame - 25 seconds after a high sticking call on Philadelphia's Travis Konecny - the Captain took a feed from Vladislav Namestnikov in the slot and snapped one quickly past Flyers goalie Carter Hart to put the Bolts ahead 1-0.
But he wasn't done there.
A little under three minutes later, again on the power play, Stamkos took a cross-ice feed from Nikita Kucherov & fired a one-timer by Hart to double the Lightning lead.
Scott Laughton scored at 10:43 to finally give Philadelphia some life. Tampa Bay looked to extend their lead but early in the third, the Flyers tied it up.
Following a hooking call to Stamkos just 25 seconds into the period, Philly's James Van Riemsdyk scored just 41 seconds later on a tip out in front to tie the score at two apiece.
It got to a point where it seemed like the next goal would be the winner. Unfortunately for Lightning fans, it was the Flyers who scored it.
After a turnover in front of the Tampa Bay net, Noah Cates found a loose puck and beat Lightning netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy at the 12:44 mark to complete the comeback for Philadelphia.
The Bolts pulled Vasilevskiy with just over 1:45 left but were unable to notch the equalizer.
Hart stopped 37 of the 39 shots he saw on the evening. Vasilevskiy stopped 21 of 24.
Time To Drop The Puck : The ceremonial puck drop before the game involved two gentlemen synonomous with hockey in Tampa Bay; Lightning founder Phil Esposito & owner Jeffrey Vinik. (VIDEO BELOW)
Congratulations Heddy! : During the first TV timeout, the Lightning played a video package commemorating Victor Hedman's 900th NHL game, which he achieved on Friday night in Columbus. (VIDEO BELOW)
Welcome to the Show Nick! : In customary fashion, Lightning defenseman Nick Perbix took his rookie lap before tonight's game. (VIDEO BELOW) Perbix logged 13:35 of ice time in his NHL debut.
*****
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
NONE
2nd Period
- Tampa Bay - PPG - Stamkos - (Namestnikov, Kucherov) - 1:25
- Tampa Bay - PPG - Stamkos (2) - (Kucherov, Hedman) - 4:12
- Philadelphia - Laughton - (Zamula, Frost) - 10:43
3rd Period
- Philadelphia - PPG - Van Riemsdyk - (Hayes, DeAngelo) - 1:06
- Philadelphia - Cates - (Unassisted) - 12:44
*****
PENALTY SUMMARY
1st Period
- Tampa Bay - MAJOR - Maroon - (Fighting) - 9:04
- Philadelphia - MAJOR - Deslauriers - (Fighting) - 9:04
- Philadelphia - Cole - (Hooking) - 12:14
2nd Period
- Philadelphia - Konecny - (High Sticking) - 1:00
- Philadelphia - MacEwen - (Roughing) - 2:21
- Philadelphia - MAJOR - Braun - (Fighting) - 2:21
- Tampa Bay - MAJOR - Perry - (Fighting) - 2:21
3rd Period
- Tampa Bay - Stamkos - (Hooking) - 0:25
- Philadelphia - MacEwen - (Holding) - 5:34
*****
What's Next For The Bolts : The Lightning are back in action on Friday night as they travel to South Florida to take on the Panthers. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30pm.
Photo: Getty Images North America
PHOTO : Getty Images