As the conversation went, it came down to the difference between game one of this series and game two. Today was a near carbon copy of game 1 with this difference. Lyon was pulled in under 3 minutes as Tampa bay were up 2-0 on 3 shots. The period saw Detroit get on the board but Tampa was ahead 4-2.
The second period saw Detroit just load up shots on net outshooting the Bolts 19-5, but with a single tally on the board. Still, heading into the third period it was a one goal game. This is where Tampa proved once again they can weather a storm and put the game out of reach. A single goal seemed to put it away, but an empty net tally put it completely out of reach. 6-3 for Tampa with just 18 shots to Detroit’s 37.
So the streak stops, again, at 7 with a painful lesson. The goalies weren’t able to bail out the team early on and this time they had a blue wall on the other end that can shrug off a shellacking. The positive? McLellan did seem to try and rein in the team with a goalie swap and whatever was said after the first period. You can’t take away from the effort. Unfortunately, you can’t take away from the number of shooters in Tampa that can make life miserable if you’re not ready.
The first goal against felt like a bad sign. Lyon got a glove on it but it rolled over the glove and in. Rest vs. rust? Of course a possibility. Talbot couldn’t close the door. Still, the team worked hard and it’s so much easier to be in front of a keyboard than in front of 17k plus on a day like this. Unfortunately Detroit will have plenty of time to digest this as a long break is coming. The 4 nations series is coming. In all honesty, an in season tournament with the league’s top players has the potential to cause some damage. Similar to the concern of the Olympics, players are going to go hard and no one wants to see someone shelved with an injury at this one. We’ll chat about it as there will be plenty of time to do so.
Let me know your thoughts. Is it a bit over-zealous to look at the things the team did well but not in a timely enough manner? Does the long break concern any of you, or is it a well needed break after a well needed break? You make this blog go, thank you for all that you contribute.
1st Period goals:
Just 1:28 into the game TB scored. Lyon got a glove on it but it was high in the mitt and trickled in. Not a good start. 1-0 TBL
At 2:56 a snap shot from the blue line saw TB go up 2-0. Goalie change less than 3 minutes in.
At 9:47, a player many have hoped to see activate in Tarasenko got Detroit on the board and grabs his 300th career goal. A nice hit from Chiarot in the neutral zone freed up the puck for Copp to get it to Debrincat. Seider got the puck as he entered the zone and his shot was tipped by Tarasenko 2-1 TBL
At 16:53 Detroit gets one back on the power play courtesy of Patrick Kane. Another faceoff win power play goal. After some movement to get the puck back to Seider, the puck goes from Raymond to Debrincat and quickly across the net front as Kane skates into a quick shot in tight. 4-2 TBL
Power play goal for Detroit!
Scored by Patrick Kane with 03:06 remaining in the 1st period.
At 14:27 Debrincat makes it a one goal game as Detroit has outshot TB 17-4 in this frame so far. Debrincat intercepted the puck on the half wall and skated in for a short side top corner beauty. 4-3 TBL
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