TAMPA – The Tampa Bay Lightning built a championship run based on a certain mentality.
When the Lightning led a game in the third period, it was game over. Protecting leads were as safe as guarding prisoners at Alcatraz - there might be some pushback and perhaps a minor dustup, but ultimately the cells remained closed at the end of the night.
In the early part of a second title defense campaign, there have been a handful of escapees with some making it all the way across the Bay as the Lightning have let some points slip through what used to be an iron clasped defense.
At this point of the sea...
