Sometimes a spirited comeback effort just isn’t good enough. Despite a three point performance from Steven Stamkos, the Tampa Bay Lightning were outmatched by the Pittsburgh Penguins, and fell by a score of 5-3.

Right from puck drop, the Penguins made the Lightning look like an American Hockey League team. Before the game was eight minutes old, Sidney Crosby had already given the Penguins a two goal lead. Unlike the Lightning, who have been caught as a result of slow starts too many times this season, the Penguins hit the ground running. Even without Evgeni Malkin in the lineup, the Penguins’ best players were the best players on the ice.

Before the first period was completed, Paul Martin scored his third of the season to give the Penguins a 3-0 lead that they would take into the intermission. Three goals on ten shots in the first period was all Guy Boucher needed to see in order to make the decision to pull Anders Lindback. To be blunt – in recent weeks, he just hasn’t been that good.

The Lightning started the second period looking like a different team. By the four minute mark, the Lightning had climbed back to within one goal thanks to tallies from Eric Brewer (4) and Steven Stamkos (13). If there is anything to take away from tonight’s game, it’s that this team doesn’t give up easily. The Lightning’s big guns stuck to the program and crawled back to the brink of respectability.

Beau Bennett deflated the Lightning’s hopes with his first career marker on a five-on-three power play. Adam Hall got caught in a bad position, and Sidney Crosby was left to feed Bennett a perfect pass. He made no mistake with his one-timer.

Just minutes into the third period, Cory Conacher scored the Lightning’s third and final tally of the evening with assists going to Victor Hedman and Steven Stamkos. Conacher’s seventh of the season gave the Lightning a shot of life that they desperately needed after the Bennett goal in the second frame. Unfortunately, it was all for naught. Matt Cooke scored an empty netter with just under a minute to play in the game. That sealed the deal on a 5-3 Penguins victory.

Searching for positives to build on heading into Tuesday’s Lightning contest, it should be noted that the team outplayed the Penguins for a great deal of the minutes after Anders Lindback was pulled. Mathieu Garon was relatively solid, the forwards seemed faster, and the defense looked calmer. For Guy Boucher, the goaltending decision for Tuesday is a relatively easy one to make. After a solid outing last night in Carolina and a good relief performance tonight, Mathieu Garon deserves a run of start. As pointed out above, Lindback just hasn’t been that good in recent weeks.

Like they say in Survivor – outwit, outplay, outlast. That’s what the Penguins were able to do on Sunday night. Above all, the Lightning were outcoached and outmatched by a team that just seemed that much more complete. Give the Penguins full credit for the victory, despite some questionable calls, and non-calls on both sides of the ice.

As always, thanks for reading.

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