So, if you were checking your phone this morning hoping to see another "W" next to the Bolts, I’ve got some slightly annoying news. The Tampa Bay Lightning finally blinked. After a month where they looked basically invincible—tying a franchise record with 11 straight wins—the streak officially died Friday night in Missouri.
The final tampa bay score today reflects a 3-2 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues. Honestly, it’s one of those games that’ll keep you up if you’re a die-hard. They were right there. They clawed back from a two-goal deficit, dominated the shot clock, and then it all just... vanished in the skills competition.
What Actually Happened in St. Louis?
The Lightning didn’t exactly start on time. Enterprise Center was loud, and the Blues took advantage of some uncharacteristic sloppiness from the Tampa defense early on. Jake Neighbours got things going for St. Louis at the 17:03 mark of the first period. Then, literally 30 seconds later, Nick Bjugstad doubled the lead.
Two goals in half a minute. That's a punch to the gut.
But you’ve watched this team long enough to know they don’t just roll over. The second period was a total power-play clinic. Nikita Kucherov, who is having another "is he human?" type of season, blasted a one-timer past Joel Hofer during a 5-on-3 advantage. About a minute later, Oliver Bjorkstrand tied it up.
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Everything looked like the streak was going to stay alive. The Lightning outshot the Blues 36-21 over the course of the game. Vasilevskiy was solid, even if he didn't have a ton of work after that first-period meltdown.
The Shootout Heartbreak
Overtime was a lot of back-and-forth but no cigars. That led to the shootout, which is always a coin flip. Jordan Kyrou was the only one who could find the back of the net for St. Louis. When it came down to Kucherov to keep it alive—the guy you want in that spot 10 times out of 10—Joel Hofer made the save.
Streak over. 11 games. It matches the team's best-ever run from 2019 and 2020. Kinda poetic, but mostly just frustrating.
The Numbers That Matter
- Nikita Kucherov: 1 goal, 1 assist (Now at 24 goals on the year).
- Andrei Vasilevskiy: 19 saves on 21 shots.
- Power Play: 2-for-2 (The only reason they got a point).
- Overall Record: 29-13-4.
Despite the loss, the Lightning are sitting pretty in the Atlantic Division standings. They’ve got 62 points and are firmly in the hunt for a top seed. One loss in a shootout doesn't change the fact that they've been the hottest team in hockey for the last three weeks.
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What About the Buccaneers?
If you’re looking for a tampa bay score today for the football side of things, it’s a bit of a waiting game. The Bucs haven't played today, January 17th. Their last meaningful action was that gritty 16-14 win over the Carolina Panthers back on January 3rd.
Baker Mayfield and the crew managed to stay alive in the NFC South race with that win, mostly thanks to Chase McLaughlin kicking three field goals and the defense bailing out a rain-soaked, messy offense. Since today is a Saturday in mid-January, the NFL playoff picture is the primary focus.
The Bucs finished the regular season at 8-9. Whether they are moving forward depends entirely on how the tiebreakers shook out with the Falcons and Panthers in that final week. It’s been a weird year in the South. Nobody really wanted to take the crown, but Tampa has a way of hanging around like a bad cold.
Rays Offseason Chaos
Switching gears to the diamond—the Rays are making moves that actually matter for 2026.
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Just a few hours ago, news broke that Gavin Lux is officially the guy at second base. Following the trade of Josh Lowe to the Angels (which still feels a bit weird to type), the Rays have a lot of new faces. They also just lost pitcher Osvaldo Bido, who was claimed off waivers by the Marlins.
It’s typical Rays stuff. They trade away established names for "potential" and "versatility." We usually complain about it in January and then act surprised when they win 90 games in September.
Why the Lightning's Loss is Actually Fine
Losing the win streak might actually be a blessing in disguise. Ask any pro athlete—carrying a double-digit win streak is exhausting. The media won't stop talking about it. Every mistake feels magnified.
Now, the "pressure" is off. They got their point in the standings. They proved the power play is still lethal.
Next up? A flight to Dallas. The Stars are no joke this year, and that game on Sunday is going to be a much better litmus test than a Friday night trap game in St. Louis.
Actionable Takeaways for Tampa Fans
- Monitor the injury report: Keep an eye on the Bolts' defensive pairings before the Dallas game. They looked a little disjointed in that first period against the Blues.
- Draft Kings/Betting Note: The over has been hitting consistently for Lightning games lately, but with the offense cooling off slightly in St. Louis, you might want to see if the line shifts.
- Buccaneers Outlook: Check the official NFL playoff bracket late tonight. The 8-9 record makes their post-season status a "math problem" more than a "football problem" right now.
The streak might be dead, but Tampa sports are still in a great spot. Go Bolts, go Bucs, and let's see if the Rays actually know what they're doing with this new-look infield.