Streaking Bolts: Tampa Bay Lightning Are In a Slump Down the Stretch

March 6th, 2011 by JC De La Torre Leave a reply »
In what was billed as a home game for the Tampa Bay Lightning (although the thousands of Montreal Canadiens fans that packed the St. Pete Times forum would beg to differ), the Bolts lost their third straight and have stumbled to a 3-4-2 record in their last nine games.

For the streaky Lightning, this is nothing new.

Tampa Bay has had multiple win streaks followed by extended losing skids throughout the 2010-11 season. This slump has a bit of a different feel, though.

Steven Stamkos, the NHL's leading goal scorer, hasn't put one past a goalie in five games and he has just one in his last 12. It's caused Stammer the Hammer to doubt himself, pass up easy shots and try to be too perfect on his trademark blasts.

"It's something that you feel, in practice, in games, you just don't feel like yourself," Stamkos told columnist Martin Fennelly of the Tampa Tribune. "You just don't have that confidence, that swagger. I don't know if that's the right word. That something that makes you go."

Their top player's funk prompted GM Steve Yzerman to pull Stamkos into his office and give the youngster an impromptu pep talk.

Inj ...

Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by

Advertisement

Comments are closed.