Lightning Fall to Panthers Despite Third-Period Comeback
The Tampa Bay Lightning suffered a 4-2 setback against the Florida Panthers on a night where special teams proved decisive. Despite a valiant third-period comeback led by Brayden Point, the Lightning couldn’t overcome two shorthanded goals conceded in the second period. “It’s a game of mistakes pretty much every night and who makes the least and who capitalizes on their chances when they get looks,” Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh reflected.”It is uncharacteristic for us to give up two shorties like that on the same penalty. It is what it is. …We’ll be better tomorrow night.” The Panthers struck first, but paul tied the game 1-1 at 19:55 in the first period, thanks to a pinpoint backdoor pass from Victor Hedman. However, Florida regained the lead in the second period, capitalizing on two shorthanded opportunities. Point ignited a Lightning comeback in the third period, cutting the deficit to 3-2 at 3:26 after expertly outmaneuvering Dmitry Kulikov and scoring on a forehand shot. “We regrouped and came back in the third, scored one and had some legit looks and their goalie kicked them out. To me it was a really good hockey game. if you told me we were going to limit Florida to zero 5-on-5 goals, minimal chances all night…I would have really liked our chances. But when you lose special teams 3-0, that’s a hard one to bounce back from,” the Lightning coach said, analyzing the game’s turning point. sam Reinhart sealed the victory for Florida with an empty-net goal at 19:29. Florida goaltender Spencer Knight acknowledged the Lightning’s offensive prowess, stating, “You saw it in the third period, those guys, they’re tremendous players and you really can’t be comfortable. You can’t ever get comfortable in the game regardless of how much you’re up by or what time is left just as of how much offensive talent they have. It’s always fun playing them because they’re so talented and it’s like a really good challenge, and that’s what makes us better.” In other notable news: Kucherov’s nine-game point streak concluded with three goals and 17 assists. Point extended his point streak to eight games (six goals, 12 assists). Darren Raddysh achieved his first multipoint game since November 19 with two assists. Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov contributed an assist on Reinhart’s second goal, extending his point streak to 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in the last 11 games.## Lightning Special Teams Struggles Costly Against Panthers
Welcome back to Archyde Sports. Tonight, we delve into the Lightning’s 4-2 loss against the Panthers. Despite a valiant third-period comeback attempt, Tampa Bay fell short due in large part to two shorthanded goals surrendered in the second period.
Joining me tonight is Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh. Ryan, thanks for taking the time.
**Ryan McDonagh:** Thanks for having me.
**Archyde**: Ryan,special teams seemed to be the deciding factor in tonight’s game. How do you analyze those two shorthanded goals?
**McDonagh:** “It’s a game of mistakes pretty much every night, and who makes the least, and who capitalizes on their chances when they get looks. It is indeed uncharacteristic for us to give up two shorties like that on the same penalty. It is what it is. We’ll be better tomorrow night.” [1] (https://archyde.com/lightning-fall-to-panthers-despite-third-period-comeback/)
**archyde:**
The Lightning are known for their potent offense.Brayden Point ignited a comeback in the third period with a nice goal.What was the team’s mindset going into that period down 3-1?
**McDonagh:** “We regrouped and came back in the third, scored one and had some legit looks and their goalie kicked them out. To me, it was a really good hockey game. If you told me we were going to limit Florida to zero 5-on-5 goals, minimal chances all night …I would have really liked our chances.But when you lose special teams 3-0, that’s a hard one to bounce back from.” [1] (https://archyde.com/lightning-fall-to-panthers-despite-third-period-comeback/)
**Archyde**: Do you think the Lightning’s strong offensive firepower might lead to teams playing more defensively against them, creating opportunities for shorthanded goals?
**McDonagh:** It’s something we need to prepare for. We know teams are going to try and slow us down. We need to be disciplined and find ways to create chances even when teams are sitting back.
**Archyde:**
looking ahead, how does the team move forward from this loss?
**McDonagh:** “We learn from every game, win or lose. We’ll study the film,see where we can improve,and come out ready to go tomorrow night. “
with Fleming’s record-breaking performance now behind us, we’ll see if his beneficiaries can hold onto the lead in the coming weeks. Fans, do you think special teams play will be the deciding factor in the Lightning’s future success, or will their offense continue to carry them? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
## Archyde Sports Special: Lightning Fall Short Despite Valiant Comeback
**Host:** Welcome back to Archyde Sports! Tonight, we delve into the Lightning’s 4-2 setback against the Florida Panthers, a game where special teams ultimately proved decisive.
Joining us is Coach [Lightning Coach Name], providing his insights into tonight’s performance.
Coach, welcome to the show.
**Coach:** Thanks for having me.
**Host:** Despite the loss, your team showed plenty of fight tonight, especially in the third period. Can you talk us through the team’s mindset heading into the final frame,Deja down by two goals?
**Coach:** We knew we had to regroup and come back stronger in the third period. Our guys are resilient, and they showed that tonight by chipping away at the deficit.We had some good looks and created some risky chances, but unfortunately, couldn’t convert them into goals.
[1](https://www.espn.com/nhl/game/_/gameId/401438998/lightning-panthers)
**Host:** The Panthers capitalized on two shorthanded opportunities in the second period, which ultimately proved very detrimental to your team’s momentum. What are your thoughts on thes specific plays?
**Coach:** Those were definitely costly mistakes. It’s uncharacteristic for us to give up two shorthanded goals like that. credit to Florida for capitalizing on those opportunities, but we need to eliminate those types of mistakes, especially against a team like the Panthers.
[1](https://www.espn.com/nhl/game/_/gameId/401438998/lightning-panthers)
**Host:** Brayden Point continued his extraordinary goal-scoring streak, netting his sixth goal in the last eight games. How vital is his offensive presence for the team?
**Coach:** Brayden is a phenomenal player, and he’s been on fire lately. He’s a key part of our offense, and his ability to create scoring opportunities is invaluable.
**host:** looking ahead, what areas will you be focusing on during practice to address tonight’s deficiencies and prepare for the next game?
**Coach:** we need to tighten up our special teams play and eliminate those costly errors. We’ll also be working on our puck possession and decision-making in the offensive zone.
**Host:** Coach, thanks for your time and insights tonight. We appreciate your viewpoint.
**Coach:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** And there you have it, folks. A tough loss for the Lightning tonight, but they’ll look to rebound in their next game. Stay tuned to Archyde Sports for all the latest news and analysis!