Eddie Pasquale tried his darndest, but the Lightning will now not break the NHL wins file this 12 months. The fine Tampa Bay can wish for is to win its very last two games and tie the file.
Montréal proved the old cliché approximately who wishes the win extra. The Lightning appeared, for the primary time, like a crew with not anything to play for.
The Canadiens stored their playoff hopes alive, spoiling Tampa Bay’s effort for sixty three wins with a 4-2 win.
Pasquale, in his second NHL begin in internet, made 41 saves in the sport. He unmarried-handedly stored the Lightning in the sport, making 18 saves in the first length alone. Despite the lopsided play, Tampa Bay nevertheless had a risk through extra than forty mins.
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Then nearly eight mins into the 1/3 duration, the hopes of a new report dimmed as Artturi Lehkonen placed Montréal on pinnacle for the first time. Those hopes took further harm a couple of minutes later while Max Domi capitalized on a turnover to constructed a two-goal lead.
The Lightning has come returned from worse, however Tampa Bay just didn’t have it in it on Tuesday.
“They played very well tonight, they deserved to win,” Steven Stamkos said. “We didn’t play very well, we deserved to lose.”
With that deserved loss, went the risk at the biggest of the numerous statistics the Lightning has chased this 12 months.
The crew hasn’t been targeted on 63 wins. Everyone knows its there, however the document has been more of a bonus object than a aware goal
“I don’t assume we idea plenty about it, it’s more sadness that we couldn’t play to our requirements,” Anton Strålman said. “Even if we did, we might have no longer gained this recreation. But tonight we didn’t surely give ourselves a risk.”
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What about 62? The Lightning could nonetheless tie the document. It’s now not as vibrant a reward as your very own mark, however still something.
“I assume it should be a intention at this factor,” Strålman stated.”It’s extra vital to get our sport going and prepare for subsequent week. But if we do it, we have a good risk at winning both games.”
Even with out the ability for sole possession of the report, it’s unlikely the Lightning will rest players within the very last video games of the regular season.
Cooper spoke for over a minute instantly at the challenge, however his 201 words may be summed up in a phrase: No.
For one, “players don’t need to be rested.”
Second, “they need to play to live sharp.”
Cooper stated players who sit down out say they aren’t the same after they come returned.
Take Strålman, who again from a 12-recreation absence with a lower-frame injury on Tuesday, he had a hard time getting again into the float.
He desired to ensure he got a few video games in before the begin of the playoffs.
Resting a player for a sport or wouldn’t pretty be the same as Strålman’s stretch, however Cooper is right that no person desires to sit down out.
There’s a hazard of damage, as the Lightning has seen with Victor Hedman doubtful for the rest of the week. There could be an injury in any recreation, but those video games don’t mean whatever so why take that chance on.
Cooper talked about that Andrei Vasilevskiy fractured a foot in practice. It’s just like the idea that you may be hit via a vehicle even as crossing the road but that doesn’t imply you don’t leave the house.
In the end, the report might were high-quality however it’s no longer the goal the Lightning has in thoughts.
Of the two different teams within the communication (Detroit with sixty three wins in 1995-ninety six and Montreal with 60 wins in 1976-seventy seven), one gained the Stanley Cup and the alternative exited early.
“It’s a splendid normal season,” Cooper stated. “The backside line is you need to get to the playoffs and we’ve executed that.”
