The struggles on the road continue for the Bolts.
A 4-2 loss to the Blue Jackets is a tough way to open the 4 game road-trip for the Lightning. After working through some of the natural growing pains that come with multiple of newly acquired players, the Lightning had high hopes to grab two points on Thursday night in Columbus.
They fell behind early in the first period when Kirill Marchenko opened the scoring for Columbus.
Steven Stamkos, who finished the game with a goal and an assist, brought some life back to the Bolts in the second period, evening out the score and giving them a chance to take the lead. They held Columbus to just five shots on goal and only 12 shot attempts in the second period.
Conor Sheary knocked one in the net soon after Stamkos, giving the Lightning a 2-1 lead early in the second. The goal marked his first of the season and first in a Lightning sweater.
From there, they allowed two third-period goals in just 2:43. The 2-1 lead quickly turned into a 3-2 deficit. Lightning coach Jon Cooper pulled goaltender Matt Tomkins to add an extra attacker with 2:50 left to go but Johnny Gaudreau snagged an empty-netter for Columbus, solidifying their 4-2 victory.
"We are just finding ways to lose games. That’s it. That was a nothing game," Jon Cooper told reporters after the game.
"That should have been easy and over and you lose a faceoff and you don't tie the guy up going to the net. Now, it's anybody's game."
"Sometimes I feel like we lose the identity of our team. We've got to figure that out. We've been put in those positions a lot over the years of having the lead in the third & knowing what do," said Stamkos.
The Bolts are 0-3-1 on the road this season. They were credited with only six third-period shots on goal and 13 shot attempts.