3 takeaways from Knights’ loss: Lightning strike after slow start — PHOTOS

The Golden Knights would’ve been fine if Thursday night’s game was 20 minutes long. They’d surely like to forget the final 40.

The Knights built a commanding two-goal lead during a dominant first period, but couldn’t contain the Tampa Bay Lightning in the final two frames in a 6-3 loss at T-Mobile Arena.

Left wing Ivan Barbashev scored twice in the opening 20 minutes to give the Knights a 2-0 lead. Barbashev also scored the team’s only goal in Tuesday’s 1-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings.

The scoreboard at the first intermission Thursday reflected the Knights’ domination. They outshot the Lightning 15-3 in the first period.

It was all Tampa Bay when the second period began. The Lightning scored six of the game’s next seven goals to drop the Knights (7-3-3) to 1-2-0 during their six-game homestand.

Right wing Mitch Marner had a goal and two assists, while goaltender Carl Lindbom made 21 saves in his third NHL start to fall to 0-2-1.

Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy finished with 29 saves.

“It’s a roller coaster ride throughout the season,” Marner said. “The thing this team does really well is stay even-keeled. Don’t get too excited, don’t get too low on yourself. We know we’re a great team in here.”

Thursday night was one of the rare times the Knights got off to a fast start. They scored first for only the fourth time in 13 games.

Barbashev’s first goal came 7:25 into the first period off a rebound from a point shot from defenseman Noah Hanifin. Barbashev’s second goal came with 4:07 left in the frame on a one-timer off a feed from Marner.

The Lightning (7-5-2) responded in the second with two goals from their third line.

Right wing Gage Goncalves struck 36 seconds into the period and center Dominic James scored his first NHL goal 2:52 later.

Tampa Bay outshot the Knights 15-4 in the second.

“All those things that went our way, in the second period they did the exact same thing,” coach Bruce Cassidy said.

The game remained tied only because the Lightning couldn’t score on their two second-period power plays.

Tampa Bay grabbed the lead in the third thanks to right wing Nikita Kucherov. The 32-year-old, who has led the NHL in points twice, scored twice in the final frame.

He gave the Lightning a 3-2 lead 2:48 into the third period, then put his team up 5-3 with a power-play goal with 5:47 remaining.

The Knights had killed 21 of their previous 22 penalties before Kucherov’s second goal.

The team tried to fight back. Marner scored 49 seconds after Kucherov’s first goal to tie the game 3-3. But left wing Brandon Hagel scored 35 seconds later to give Tampa Bay the lead back. Hagel added an empty-net goal off an assist from Kucherov with 47 seconds to play.

“We’ll have to take a look at it. Back to the drawing board,” defenseman Brayden McNabb said. “It’s definitely not how you want to finish your games.”

Here are three takeaways from the loss:

1. Scouting report on Lindbom

Lindbom’s introduction to NHL action has been a baptism by fire. He’s faced Tampa Bay twice and the Colorado Avalanche once in his first three starts.

The 22-year-old didn’t see a lot of action early Thursday, as the Lightning didn’t put a shot on goal until there was 4:22 remaining in the first period. Tampa Bay tried to get him out of position with extra passes and lateral movement.

The Lightning ended up breaking through, but Lindbom will get another chance.

2. Wasted opportunity

The Knights had a golden opportunity to respond after Hagel’s go-ahead goal, as Vasilevskiy was given a double minor for high sticking right wing Reilly Smith.

The team’s power play, which entered Thursday in a 2-for-20 slump, struggled again, however. The Knights had two shots on goal during their four minutes on the man advantage. One came from defenseman Noah Hanifin, who replaced defenseman Shea Theodore on the top unit midway through the power play.

“It’s been stagnant for a while,” Cassidy said. “It’s another thing I got to sort out.”

The Knights have missed captain Mark Stone, who suffered a wrist injury Oct. 18 against the Calgary Flames. Marner has taken Stone’s spot below the goal line.

“It’s been weird,” Marner said. “We’ve been talking a lot. We’re trying to figure it out. I’ve got to do a better job down there to open up plays and make better plays.”

3. Anaheim calling

The Knights’ next game is Saturday against the surprising Anaheim Ducks (9-3-1), who have won five straight games and are stop the Pacific Division standings.

The Ducks are surging under first-year coach Joel Quenneville. Left wing Cutter Gauthier is tied for the NHL lead with 11 goals, while center Leo Carlsson has 20 points in 13 games.

Goaltender Akira Schmid is expected to start for the Knights.

Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.