After their most dynamic period of the season on Tuesday in a schooling of the Colorado Avalanche, the Pittsburgh Penguins fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1 on Thursday night at the St. Pete Times Forum. The game was plagued by penalties and defined by the power play - namely the Pens inability to convert on the man advantage and the Lightning's ability to capitalize on their opportunities and extend their lead
There were eight penalties alone in the third period. The Pens outshot the Lightning 34 to 18, but were unable to score against an impressive Dwayne Roloson. The Tampa goalie has had a rough season so far but he had perhaps his best game of the year on Tuesday night. The Pens peppered Roloson on the power play, including a 5 on 3 advantage in the third period, but the shots were simply not finding the back of the net.
But just one minute after Vincent Lecavalier's second goal of the night - an empty netter - the Pens would finally get on the board with a little over three minutes remaining. In the four-on-four scenario, Tyler Kennedy fired a shot from center that deflected off the shin pad of a Tampa defenseman and past Roloson for his second goal of the season. It was too little too late at point.
Pittsburgh will now travel across the peninsula to try and bounce back against the Florida Panthers on Saturday night.
For more Penguins coverage, please visit Pensburgh, SB Nation's Penguins blog. For the perspective from the other side, please visit Raw Charge, SB Nation's Lightning blog.