Sharks 4, Lightning 2

Tied to open the third period, Tampa Bay’s defense had a breakdown right away, and Cooper called the go-ahead goal, by San Jose left wing Matt Nieto just 1:07 into the third, “inexcusable”.

“It’s a good start”, said San Jose center Joe Thornton, who had two assists.

The Sharks took their first lead when Joe Pavelski scored at 6:34, thanks in part to Victor Hedman inadvertently screening goalie Ben Bishop. He’s also allowed three goals or more in four of his last five contests. Tampa Bay (30-22-4) has dropped four of five games now, putting it in a tight pack for the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.

At a crucial time of the season, the Tampa Bay Lightning are going in the wrong direction.

“We’re cheating the game a little bit right now, that’s basically what we’re doing”, Cooper said.

Steven Stamkos was held without a point, taking three shots and finishing with a minus-1 rating in the Lightning’s first game since general manager Steve Yzerman said Monday that the team captain won’t be moved before this month’s trade deadline.

Despite the media blackout, Sportsnet’s Elliott Friedman reported the Lightning offered Stamkos an eight-year, $68 million contract in December.

Nieto’s eighth goal of the season came in transition, as Ward fed Patrick Marleau, who took the puck into the Lightning zone on a 2 on 1.

Defensive breakdowns are the key culprit again in the Lightning’s second consecutive loss at home and the fourth in their last five, falling this time to the visiting San Jose Sharks 4-2. “Wardo made a nice play on the wall and Patty made a nifty pas over to me. We have to get better defensively”.

Stamkos, who had a 14-game point streak against the Jets end with last season’s home defeat, has 25 goals and 18 assists in 31 meetings. Right wing Joel Ward tied the score 1:43 into the period with a shot that Bishop got a piece of but couldn’t stop.

“We need to have more urgency”, Lightning forward Alex Killorn said after the loss to San Jose.

NOTES: Pavelski ended a six-game goal drought…. Thornton (1,340 games) and Dainius Zubrus (1,268 games) are in 51st and 72nd place, respectively…. Yzerman said in a statement, “With 27 games remaining in the season, our entire organization, Steven included, wants to focus on making the playoffs”, and they’ll keep negotiations private.

“For a passer, it’s nice when the guys are finishing the way they are”.

The Sharks survived an initial surge by Tampa Bay, which had the game’s first six shots through the first six minutes. The Sharks played without D Brendon Dillon (upper body) for a third straight game.

Against San Jose, the Bolts’ usual scoring suspects were missing in action, but a pair of players mired in long scoring slumps helped keep the Lightning afloat.