Arizona Coyotes fall behind early, lose to Lightning

TAMPA – Blown leads plagued the Coyotes last season, but it hasn't been a problem for the 2014-15 version.

That's because the Coyotes have carried a lead in only two games thus far, instead developing a habit of falling into holes they can't climb out of with Tuesday's 7-3 loss to the Lightning in front of 17,511 at Amalie Arena to start a four-game road trip the latest example.

"There is no excuses," coach Dave Tippett said. "There's no excuses here. We didn't play well. Simple as that."

NOTES:Coyotes change up routine to fit time difference

The Coyotes were mired in a three-goal deficit four times, making the fight that finally came to the surface irrelevant as the Coyotes couldn't keep pace with the Lightning, who were led by Nikita Kucherov's first career hat trick.

And with this the sixth game the Coyotes have not managed a lead, they've only led for 47:54 this season – for most of their win over the Oilers Oct.15 and in parts of their shootout loss to the Predators Oct.21. Even their two overtime wins – against the Kings and Panthers – didn't boast an advantage on the scoreboard during regulation.

"It's tough, obviously, when you're chasing the game," defenseman Keith Yandle said.
The Coyotes were outmuscled in the first, sending only three shots on net as the Lightning built a 2-0 lead while peppering goalie Mike Smith. A point shot from Radko Gudas was tipped by screen Kucherov at 7:46. And at 12:18, Valtteri Filppula sent a puck in front from behind the net and then put a rebound from an Alex Killorn shot five-hole on Smith.

The Lightning made it 3-0 after Smith kicked out a rebound right to Kucherov, who buried the puck at 3:20 of the second. But the Coyotes found one back with captain Shane Doan's first of the season, a backhand past goalie Ben Bishop at 14:07. But the momentum was short-lived. An errant pass from defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson to the middle of the Coyotes zone landed right on Brian Boyle's stick, and he deked to the backhand at 17:32.

"Turnovers will hurt you," Tippett said. "You got a team as skilled as that you turn the puck over, they're going to come back at you. That's exactly what happened."

That was an especially painful play for the Coyotes because with 1:08 left in the period, Martin Erat's wrap-around went off Killorn's skate and past Bishop to make it 4-2. With three goals so far, Erat's already matched his output from all of last season.
Kucherov capped off his hat trick bid at 8:23 of the third with a one-timer from the slot.

Only 1:03 later, the Lightning made it 6-2 with Boyle's second of the game – a one-timer from the faceoff circle. Smith's night was over after that as he exited with 27 saves (Bishop had 22) – the third time he's been on the hook for six goals-against this season.

"It's a whole group," Tippett said. "Whole group – not Mike. Whole group."

The Coyotes replied at 12:43 of the third when B.J. Crombeen, who was traded from Tampa Bay to Arizona in the offseason, went top-shelf on Bishop, but the Lightning capped off the scoring at 18:15 with a point shot on the power play from Matt Carle on backup Devan Dubnyk. The Lightning went 1-for-3 on the power play, while the Coyotes didn't earn a single opportunity.

"This is our third game where we've given up way too many goals," Doan said. "As a professional hockey player, you get embarrassed. You have to be embarrassed. I think everyone's embarrassed when it happens."

All three Coyotes goals came at even strength, which has been a struggle for the Coyotes this season, but the production wasn't that helpful with how vulnerable the Coyotes left the middle of the ice in their own zone.

"That should be enough," Doan said. "We should be better in our own zone to give ourselves a chance. But obviously it wasn't even close."