The Tampa Bay Lightning faced off against the St. Louis Blues in a closely contested match at the Enterprise Center, ending with a score of 3-2 in favor of the Blues. The Bolts now hold a record of 29-13-4, while the Blue Note stands at 19-21-8.

Jan 16, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser (90) skates against St. Louis Blues right wing Jimmy Snuggerud (21) during the second period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-Imagn Images

First Period

The game began with both teams displaying strong defensive strategies, but it was the Blues who managed to break through first. They scored twice in this period, establishing an early lead that put pressure on the Lightning. Despite several attempts by Nikita Kucherov and his teammates, they were unable to find the back of the net during this period.

Second Period

The second period saw a resurgence from Tampa Bay as they capitalized on their powerplay opportunities. Nikita Kucherov played a pivotal role by scoring one goal and assisting another during powerplays, showcasing his offensive skills and contributing significantly to leveling the playing field. The Bolts' powerplay efficiency was evident as they converted two out of three opportunities into goals.

Jan 16, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Declan Carlile (67) and St. Louis Blues left wing Nathan Walker (26) get physical during the first period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-Imagn Images

Third Period

As both teams entered into what would be their final regulation period tied at 2-2, neither side could gain an advantage despite numerous shots on goal from both ends. Andrei Vasilevskiy stood firm for Tampa Bay with crucial saves that kept them in contention throughout this tense segment.

Overtime and Shootout

Overtime did not yield any goals for either team despite some close calls from players like Brandon Hagel for Tampa Bay and Jordan Kyrou for St. Louis. It all came down to a shootout where Joel Hofer's goaltending prowess shone through for St. Louis as he denied all attempts from Lightning shooters while Kyrou secured victory with his successful shot against Vasilevskiy.

Jan 16, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Declan Carlile (67) and St. Louis Blues left wing Nathan Walker (26) get physical during the first period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-Imagn Images

In reflecting upon what went wrong for Tampa Bay Lightning, it was clear that while their powerplay was effective, missed opportunities during even strength play were costly against an equally determined opponent like St.Louis.

Looking ahead, fans can catch the next game featuring Tampa Bay Lightning vs Dallas Stars scheduled on January 18th at American Airlines Center in Dallas starting at 2:00 PM EST broadcasted live via NHL Network or streamed online through Victory+ or The Spot TV networks.

Stay tuned for more updates and share your thoughts about this intense matchup!

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