Most embarrassing loss in Lightning playoff history.
CBJ-4
TB-3
Columbus Leads the Series 1-0
Andrei Vasilevskiy allowed 4 goals on 26 shots for the loss.
First Period
4:12 TB Killorn (1), (unassisted)(SH)
11:01 TB Cirelli (1), (Cernak, Miller)
17:50 TB Gourde (1), (Sergachev, Rutta)
Second Period
9:15 CBJ Foligno (1), (Anderson)
Third Period
7:56 CBJ Savard (1), (unassisted)
11:54 CBJ Anderson (1), (Jenner)(SH)
14:05 CBJ Jones (1), (Panarin, Werenski)(PP)
Anthony Cirelli was the game's second star.
I'm hard pressed to think of a time I've been more embarrassed by this team's effort. This first round matchup against Columbus isn't a test of talent or tactics. It's a test of heart and will. They're up against a team coached by John Tortorella and they decided to take their collective foot off the gas after twenty minutes of hockey? Really? Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard, and this Lightning team completely took the Second Period of this contest off and then proceeded to make brain cramp after brain cramp in the Third Period to allow Columbus to steal a win in a game where they'd have been dead and buried long prior had the Lightning maintained any semblance of consistent effort.
I have no idea why the Lightning coaching staff chose the defensive lineup they did, but in no universe should the Sergachev and Rutta pairing be playing in a playoff game. They spent the entire Second Period hemmed up and under pressure. How in the blue hell did Rutta end up with more ice time than Erik Cernak? And, why in the hell do you leave one of your most rugged and experienced customers like Braydon Coburn in the press box against THAT opponent?
And, may I suggest to a few forwards who decided to play tentative milquetoast hockey tonight like Tyler Johnson to follow Yanni Gourde's lead and treat a playoff hockey game with playoff intensity?
They had an opportunity in the Second Period of this game to completely break Columbus' confidence and run Bobrovsky out of the series. Now they're facing a do or die contest in Game Two instead. If that doesn't light a fire under them then they really are nothing but a paper tiger and all the regular season records in the world won't change it. How bad does this Lightning team really want it? Because, in all sports, greatness is only validated by winning championships. Nothing else.
Box score and extended statistics from NHL.com.
