from Tom Jones of the Tampa Bay Times,

Flu. Blood clots. Freak leg injuries. Team trainer Tommy Mulligan is working so hard he might get a few Conn Smythe votes.

One star returns, another goes down. Defenseman Anton Stralman was back, playing for the first time since fracturing his leg on March 25. But Callahan was out, joining goalie Ben Bishop and captain Steven Stamkos on the sideline.

Yet the Lightning forged ahead. Another obstacle. Another hurdle. Another ready-made and completely valid excuse if it wanted.

Think about that for a second. Its best goalie, its best goal scorer and its best and grittiest two-way player all out of the lineup.

But no bellyaching from the boys in blue and white with the Lighting bolt on the chest. Instead, it rolled up its sleeves and went back to work with whoever wasn't sick or hurt.

Eventually, however, all of it catches up to you. Some nights, the obstacles are just too much. Some nights, the hurdles are just too high.

Monday was that night. A golden opportunity to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. A golden opportunity lost.

It took overtime, but the Lightning lost. Pens star Sidney Crosby scored the winner 40 seconds into overtime. Now the Lightning comes home tied at 1-1. Not bad, but oh what could have been.

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