Lightning Struggle at Home Against Columbus

Tampa Bay's penalty kill allows two power-play goals in loss to Blue Jackets

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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The Tampa Bay Lightning fell to the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2 at home, marking their sixth loss in the last seven games. The Lightning's penalty kill struggled, allowing two power-play goals to the Blue Jackets.

Why it matters

The Lightning have been one of the top teams in the NHL in recent years, but this recent slump has them falling down the standings. Their penalty kill, usually a strength, has been a major issue during this stretch, and they'll need to shore that up to get back on track.

The details

The Blue Jackets scored two power-play goals in the game, taking advantage of Tampa Bay's penalty kill issues. The Lightning were unable to generate enough offense to overcome the deficit, despite outshooting Columbus 35-26.

  • The game took place on March 10, 2026.

The players

Tampa Bay Lightning

A professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida that plays in the National Hockey League.

Columbus Blue Jackets

A professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio that plays in the National Hockey League.

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The takeaway

The Lightning's recent struggles, particularly on the penalty kill, are a cause for concern as they try to regain their footing and climb back up the standings. They'll need to shore up that aspect of their game if they want to return to being one of the top teams in the NHL.