BOSTON _ The Lightning didn't look ready. Tampa Bay looked tired and worn down.
The speedy Lightning, who usually dictate games, couldn't keep up with the Bruins on Thursday.
"It felt like we were in quicksand and they played really well," Steven Stamkos said after the 4-1 loss.
Ryan McDonagh felt not playing smart got Tampa Bay stuck in its own game for long stretches.
That describes most, if not all, of the first period.
The Lightning played the vast majority of the first 20 minutes in front of Louis Domingue. The Bruins put 17 shots on net and took 29 total shot attempts. Tampa Bay did help Domingue out some with eight blocked shots in the period, but he had to make save after save.
In that first period, the Lightning put four shots on goal and only took 12 shot attempts. The team just didn't give itself a chance to create any kind of opportunities because it couldn't get out of its zone.
Domingue did everything you could ask of a goalie, turning away all 17 of those shots. He played 50 minutes of great hockey before giving up three goals in 88 seconds in the third period that made the final score the lopsided game.
Before that, the Lightning were one good play away from tying the game, something they have done so many times. Even going into the third period, when the Lightning didn't have much to show for themselves, Tampa Bay still felt it had a chance.
"(Domingue) was incredible," McDonagh said. "He's been incredible the whole season. For sure, tonight was a prime example of us leaving a goalie out to try on many occasions. He gave us multiple chances to come back."
After the third of those three goals, a breakaway by Brad Marchand, Domingue snapped his stick in frustration.
None of the usual sparks came through for the Lightning. The power play came up empty on three chances. Instead of being a boost for Tampa Bay, each of those kills turned into another positive for Boston.
The Lightning haven't looked this bad maybe since the 7-1 loss to Arizona back on Oct. 27. On one hand, that one came against a worse team, which makes it look like a worse loss. But it was also early in the season and against an opponent the Lightning is unlikely to meet in the playoffs.
Boston is the opposite. The Lightning and Bruins know each other well, playing tight games in the regular season and playoffs. That means Tampa Bay has more chances to redeem itself, but also that this one has some definite sting.
Recently, when the Lightning has gotten down, it found ways to get itself to overtime. Like after giving up leads late to both the Rangers and the Sabres. But Tampa Bay never recovered on Thursday.
"It hasn't been too many games where it's been almost the whole game where we haven't played the way we were capable of," McDonagh said. "We've had off periods here and there but we've found ways to bounce back."
