Burns: 3 Things we learned from an overtime loss in Carolina

The Tampa Bay Lightning returned from an unscheduled four-day break between games in Columbus and Carolina and were able to manage a point in Raleigh but couldn't come through with a victory, falling 1-0 in overtime to the Hurricanes Thursday night.

The Lightning have dropped back-to-back games for the first time since the final two contests of the 2019-20 regular season (the Bolts never lost consecutive games through 25 contests in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs).
Tampa Bay failed to score a goal for the first time in 88 regular season games, the Lightning going more than a season without being shut out, the last coming March 7, 2019 in a 3-0 loss versus Minnesota.
Despite the setback, there was plenty to like about Tampa Bay's game. Andrei Vasilevskiy was sensational in net, stopping 35-of-36 shots and making several key stops to salvage a point for the Bolts. The Lightning were considerably less sloppy with the puck than their 5-2 losing effort in Columbus Saturday. And after an uneven performance in the first period, they settled into their game in the second period to control the action and continued to play well in the third.
Martin Necas' goal 1:12 into overtime prevented the Lightning from capitalizing on their improving play, however.
"I thought we played well," Vasilevskiy said. "We played well defensively, good PK, just turn the page and move on."
That next page comes Saturday when the Lightning begin a four-game homestand at AMALIE Arena against the Nashville Predators, their first game at home since January 15.

1. AN UNFORTUNATE END
Tampa Bay had plenty of opportunities to find the breakthrough goal against Carolina.
In the third period alone, the Lightning had a couple Grade-As that just missed. From the right wall, Barclay Goodrow centered a pass to the low slot perfectly into the path of a charging Blake Coleman, but Hurricanes goaltender Petr Mrazek was able to slide over in time to block the opportunity.
A little later in the third and with time running out on regulation, Steven Stamkos lined up an absolute heater from the right circle that took off a layer of paint from the crossbar before deflecting out of play into the netting behind the goal.
In overtime, the Lightning's opportunities dried up.
Mainly because they didn't have the puck.
Carolina won the opening face-off of the extra session and kept the puck buried in the Lightning's end for the duration. Andrei Vasilevskiy fended off a couple shots, the trio of Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Victor Hedman broke up a couple more plays, but the Lightning could never gain possession.
The Hurricanes were able to get a change while the Bolts were still defending in their own end, and that signaled the end for Tampa Bay. Jordan Staal sauced a pass onto the back post for Necas with the Lightning scrambling to recover, and Necas one-timed the winning shot past Vasilevskiy.
"They get possession, we don't get to grab it," Lightning center Brayden Point lamented. "Give them credit, they did a good job possessing it. They were able to get a change, get some fresh guys out and kind of take advantage of a tired group. Sometimes that happens."

2. THE BIG CAT EATS
Andrei Vasilevskiy wasn't pleased with his performance Saturday in Columbus, the Lightning netminder giving up four goals on 27 shots, including a couple he felt he could have done better on.
And despite the extended layoff with Tuesday's game against Carolina postponed due to COVID-19 concerns, Vasilevskiy shrugged off the unexpected time off and put together his finest performance of the young season five nights later in Carolina.
Quite simply, without Vasilevskiy's heroics, the Lightning don't leave Raleigh with a point.
"Vasy made some huge saves to keep us in that, especially late to even force us to get a point," Point said. "I thought he was fantastic again. He's been solid all year in the little amount of games."
Midway through the third period, Vasilevskiy might have put together his finest sequence of the game. Jake Gardiner wheeled behind the net and centered in front for Jordan Staal, who had his one-timer denied by Vasilevskiy's left leg. Nino Niederreiter was lurking on the edge of the crease for a quick chance on the rebound, but Vasilevskiy saw that one too, keeping it out again with the leg before snaring it with a swipe of the glove.
"I felt really good tonight," Vasilevskiy said. "Just unfortunate goal for us in overtime."
Carolina became the first team to outshoot the Lightning this season, owning a 36-32 advantage in shots at the conclusion. But the heavy volume might have been to Vasilevskiy's benefit.
"They had lots of shots tonight, which I like," Vasilevskiy said. "Two games ago against Columbus, had only 20-something shots, so it's really tough to get going when you don't have that much shots."
Vasilevskiy had it going all night against Carolina. It's why the Lightning were able to salvage a point out of the loss.
3. JOSEPH EXCELS AT CENTER
Mathieu Joseph hadn't played center since his days in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League starring for the Saint John Sea Dogs.
But with Mitchell Stephens out indefinitely after suffering a lower-body injury Saturday in Columbus, the Lightning needed someone to center their fourth line.
Joseph has been a jack-of-all-trades player for the Lightning this season. When Tyler Johnson was unavailable for the season opener, Joseph moved up to the second line. When Blake Coleman was held out Saturday at Columbus after being late for a team meeting, Joseph played the left wing on the third line.
When everybody's available, Joseph typically slots in on the right side of the fourth line. But that's only happened twice through five games so far this season, underscoring just how valuable Joseph's versatility could be for the Lightning.
Jon Cooper had a hunch Joseph might excel in a centerman role with his speed and ability to play a simple game. Against Carolina, Joseph showed he might be ready for extended time in his new position.
The 23 year old had a couple dangerous scoring chances early in the game. And then he created a couple more for Pat Maroon, notably in the second period he sent an area pass toward the low slot for Pat Maroon to skate onto in alone on Mrazek, the veteran winger unable to lift the puck enough on his backhand to get a shot over the goalie's leg pad and convert the opportunity.
But the fourth line was effective all night, and the chemistry Joseph showed centering Maroon and Alexander Volkov gives the Lightning hope they might have found a replacement for Stephens while he recuperates.
"I liked him there," Cooper said after the game. "He had the puck a lot more than usual. The way he skates, playing 200 feet is no problem for him. If that's what we're going to get in his first game, it's only going to get better from there. I like what we're seeing."