Embarrassing response from the Lightning's top players: they abandon their head coach Jon Cooper with a ridiculous performance

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Julien Trekker
March 5, 2023 (6:10 PM)

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As we reported last night, things are stirring up at the Tampa Bay Lightning.

During their game against the Buffalo Sabres yesterday, their head coach, Jon Cooper, made a very bold decision.

Unprecedented at Lightning

In the third period of the match against the Sabres, Cooper surprised everyone by deciding to bench Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, and Brayden Point.

All three! They didn't play a single shift in the third period. Not one.

The worst possible response

Today, Cooper and the Lightning faced the Carolina Hurricanes.

How did the players respond to the coach's decision?

Badly! In the worst way possible!

And reactions are numerous:

"The Lightning has 4 shots after 2 periods. And 0 in the 2nd. How much was it maybe not a good idea for Jon Cooper to 'bench' Stamkos, Point and Kucherov in the last game...

MO Beaudoin"

"Should we be worried about the Lightning? After Jon Cooper had Kucherov, Stamkos, and Point warming the bench for the entire third period on Saturday, the Lightning is trailing 4-0 after 40 minutes against the Hurricanes and has not registered a single shot on goal in the 2nd period.

Marc Antoine Godin"

"Nothing is going right with the Lightning, on their way to their 5th consecutive loss and 8th in 10 games.

It's 4-0 Hurricanes after two periods and the Lightning has only 4 shots on goal. The lowest total after 2 this season in the league.

NO shots on goal in the 2nd period for Tampa.

Patrick Friolet, RDS"

Things are really not going well for them!

Update: it's now 5-0 for the Hurricanes. Wow.