Jon Cooper: Lightning can’t find way to score vs. CHI

The fourth-year winger was on the toe end of a tic-tac-toe play emanating from a 3-on-1 early in overtime, and he was only happy to oblige.

Winnipeg Jets’ Drew Stafford (12) scores against Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop (30) as Braydon Coburn (55) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, October 23, 2015, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. “You have to be concerned with this season and as far as we are concerned, we are just playing one game here”.

Victor Hedman passed to Steven Stamkos, who fed Palat cross-ice, leaving the left-winger with a simple tap in to claim the victory.

“I’m more concerned about our starts”.

“I was just hoping something would go in”, Toews said. All told, the Hawks played much better in the second period, putting more pressure on the Tampa defense, skating with much more fluidity and spending more time in the offensive zone.

While the loss of the club’s undisputed No. 1 defender is most definitely a significant blow to the Blackhawks – though one they’ll gladly take now as opposed to later on this season – there’s one player on Chicago’s roster who stands to benefit greatly from the power shift: Brent Seabrook.

Tyler Johnson threaded a pass from behind the net to Coburn, who buried his first of the season for a 1-0 Tampa Bay lead. “That line was a factor as the game progressed”.

Ehlers came inches from his second of the night and a lead for the Jets, but his shot hit the post. “I think both teams were good for a reason”. Much like the first period Chicago continued to have trouble penetrating Tampa’s defense to get any pucks to the net.

“We found a way to get back on our horse in the third and Blake’s (shorthanded) goal was a big part of that”.

Second Period-None. Penalties-Rundblad, Chi (interference),:46; Shaw, Chi (interference), 19:21. The Tampa Bay Lightning had four opportunities tonight with the man advantage, and they were not able to capitalize on a single one of them.

Paquette benefitted from the Lightning forcing a Jets turnover, allowing the sophomore to snipe his first of the season top corner over Pavelec’s glove hand.

Stafford briefly tied the game 2-2 on a partial breakaway.

Corey Crawford, who helped shut down the Lightning in the Final by holding them to two goals in the final three games, came through again, stopping all 21 shots for the shutout victory. “It’s going to be a tough grind all year, everyone seems to win every night”.

The Jets play again on Sunday afternoon at 5 p.m.as the Minnesota Wild invade MTS Centre.

The Hawks could not light the lamp often against the Lightning on Saturday, only winning 1-0 when Jonathan Toews scored a goal 17 seconds into 3-on-3 overtime, but the Hawks had possession of the puck most of the night and limited the Lightning’s ability to mount momentum and significant scoring chances.

Earning a point or managing a win in this game could well make the difference for Chicago reaching the playoffs, but probably means less for its guests.