Avalanche Expose Lightning’s Flaws: Tampa’s Win Streak Snapped in Colorado as Defensive Cracks Show

The Tampa Bay Lightning began Tuesday’s game at Ball Arena against the Colorado Avalanche with a near perfect start, but the visitors saw their five-game win streak end with a 3-2 loss to Colorado.

Tampa Bay scored 97 seconds into the game, but Colorado (8-1-5 this season) scored the game’s next three goals to take the win. The Lightning now hold a 6-5-2 record in 2025-26.

“I thought the first (period) was good. They had chances on the power play, but I thought 5-on-5 we were controlling a lot of the play. And the second, they kind of took over,” Lightning forward Brayden Point said postgame. "We had a stretch there, I don’t know how long it was for those two goals, but that’s tough to come back from. (Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy) played great and the PK did a great job to keep us in the game, and we just came up short in the end.”

Forwards Zemgus Girgensons, Yanni Gourde and Pontus Holmberg pinned Colorado in their own defensive zone early on a shift that ended with Nikita Kucherov taking the ice, forcing a turnover behind the Avalanche net and snagging a 1-0 lead for the visitors just 97 seconds into the game.

Kucherov stopped a Cale Makar clearing attempt behind the net and then wrapped the puck around the net to beat Colorado goalie Scott Wedgewood to the right post.

A pair of Lightning penalties less than three minutes apart saw Colorado even the score. Despite Tampa Bay killing the first Avalanche power play 10:47 into the period, a too many men on the ice penalty against the visitors ended with the 1-1 tally.

Forward Victor Olofsson potted the rebound following Nathan MacKinnon’s initial shot on the power play with 6:09 left in the first period.

Olofsson’s second goal of the game gave the Avalanche their first lead 4:08 into the second period, this time firing home a shot after teammate Jack Drury’s initial shot attempt rolled off his tape.

Former Bolt Ross Colton extended the Avalanche lead to 3-1 when he snuck behind the Lightning defense for a backhand breakaway goal 1:13 later.

“Maybe a lack of focusing a little bit,” defenseman Charle-Edouard D’Astous said of the rapid goals against. “It was two (where) we let our guy go and they scored, but yeah, we’ve got to play 60 minutes.”

The Lightning opened the third period with a push of their own, this sparked by a highlight goal from Point.

Point’s third marker of the year saw him fly through the neutral zone and attack the Colorado end with speed, slipping the puck to his backhand before ripping a shot off the crossbar and down into the Avalanche net 3:32 into the third period.

Tampa Bay pushed with the hopes of tying the game, but the Avalanche held on for the win. Vasilevskiy finished with 30 saves, while D’Astous and Victor Hedman assisted on Point’s goal.

Tampa Bay closes its three-game road trip with a Thursday visit to the Vegas Golden Knights (7-2-3) at T-Mobile Arena.

Benjamin’s Three Stars:

Victor Olofsson, COL (2 goals)
Scott Wedgewood, COL (22 saves)
Brayden Point, TBL (Goal)

BREAKING: Christian McCaffrey’s Shocking Louis Store Snub: NFL Star Turned Away for Casual Look

In an unbelievable turn of events, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey was recently denied entry into a prestigious Louis store for being "too casually dressed." But when store employees discovered they had just turned away the NFL star, they were left utterly speechless. McCaffrey had been trying to buy a special gift for his family. Despite being a talented and promising player in the NFL, the store’s staff failed to recognize him and made a snap judgment based solely on his appearance.

Christian McCaffrey, known for his explosive speed and versatility, encountered an unexpected situation when he tried to enter a luxury Louis store in San Francisco. Dressed casually, McCaffrey was told that his outfit didn’t meet the store’s dress code. The employees, unaware of his identity, quickly denied him entry. It wasn’t until later that they realized they had just turned away one of the NFL’s biggest stars.

Instead of reacting with frustration or anger, McCaffrey handled the situation with grace. He simply walked away, unaffected by the judgment. “It’s not about what you wear; it’s about who you are and how you carry yourself,” McCaffrey said after the incident. His calm response further reinforced his reputation as a composed and focused athlete, someone who doesn’t let superficial judgments affect him.

The incident quickly went viral, with fans and analysts alike expressing disbelief at how easily judgments were made based on his casual outfit. McCaffrey's response highlights the importance of not defining someone by their clothing, especially when that person’s worth comes from their actions and accomplishments.

The NFL community rallied behind Christian McCaffrey, condemning the actions of the Louis store and praising McCaffrey for his dignified response. This incident serves as a reminder that no one should be judged solely based on their appearance. For McCaffrey, his worth and success are defined by his leadership on the field and his relentless pursuit of excellence, not his wardrobe.

For Christian McCaffrey, the true measure of success will always be on the field—and that’s what truly defines him.

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