Tampa Bay Lightning say team 'lost game, not series' after Game 2 drubbing

DENVER — The Tampa Bay Lightning said their confidence hasn't been shaken despite a 7-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday night, the most lopsided playoff defeat in franchise history.

«At the end of day, we lost the game, not the series,» said defenseman Victor Hedman.

The Lightning's other biggest playoff blowout losses were by five goals. Colorado's 7-0 win is tied for the second largest margin of victory in a Stanley Cup Final shutout win in NHL history.

«Am I shocked that we lost seven-zip? I mean, I don't think we saw that coming,» said center Steven Stamkos.

The Lighting captain said the margin of defeat is «totally not acceptable, especially at this time of year,» and acknowledged that some might have the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions counted out in the series because of it.

«Listen, people are gonna be watching this game tonight and probably think the series is over. But we're a very resilient group,» he said. «We were in this position last round. So whether it's 1-0 or 7-0 or 10-0, it's a loss in the playoffs. We've got to man up as a team. Let's get back home in front of our fans, and let's see what we're made of.»

The Lightning were embarrassed in Game 2, and not just in the final margin of defeat. They vowed to have a stronger start than in Game 1, when the Avalanche built a 2-0 lead by the 9:23 mark of the first period. Instead, the Lightning trailed the Avalanche 3-0 just 13:52 into Game 2.

That began with a hooking penalty on defenseman Ryan McDonagh just 1:01 into the game that Colorado turned into a Valeri Nichushkin power-play goal for the 1-0 lead.

«It was an undisciplined penalty by me. To give a team a power play in the first minute is never a good