Game 8 Recap: Bolts Can’t Come From Behind This Time

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The Lightning went back to their old selves again, allowing two unanswered goals in the first period on the way to losing 3-1 to the New Jersey Devils last night. The Devils Adam Henrique (his 100th career) and Damon Severson scored ten minutes apart and the sluggish Bolts found themselves behind the eight ball. The second period saw Devante Smith-Pelly  score the third unanswered goal.

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 29: John Moore #2 of the New Jersey Devils battles for the puck against Vladislav Namestnikov #90 of the Tampa Bay Lightning during their game at the Prudential Center on October 29, 2016 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ – OCTOBER 29: John Moore #2 of the New Jersey Devils battles for the puck against Vladislav Namestnikov #90 of the Tampa Bay Lightning during their game at the Prudential Center on October 29, 2016 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Despite the score at the end of the second period, Bolts backstop Andrei Vasilevskiy was superb in net stopping 17 of the 20 shots New Jersey fired at him. The Lightning’s puck management, especially in their own end was atrocious, leaving Vasilevskiy hung out to dry.

Through two periods Steven Stamkos had registered five shots on goal.

At 1:59 of the third period, Tyler Johnson scored his second of the year from Brayden Point to pull the Bolts to within two.

An angry Steven Stamkos summed the night up like this, “You can’t take anything for granted. Nobody gives a (expletive) what you did last year. We’ve got to be better.”

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The Bolts will go at ’em again tomorrow night in Madison Square Garden vs. the New York Rangers. ‘

The scratches tonight were Nikita Kucherov (injury) and Matt Taormina (coaches decision).

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