THREE THINGS: Strome Returns, Power at Play and Multi Mattias

The Blackhawks and Lightning went back-and-forth in the opening period, each taking a lead and tying the game as the sides were deadlocked 2-2 after 20, but it was a third-period game-winner from Ross Colton and an empty-netter in the final seconds from Victor Hedman that gave Tampa the 4-2 win on Thursday night in Florida.

"I thought we played really well. Disappointed in the result," head coach Jeremy Colliton said. "There's always little things that we'd like to improve. Throughout the game, there was a few more plays out there for us where if we execute a bit better, we can create more in transition… We have to be encouraged with how we competed tonight and I thought we stuck with it. That's something we can build on."
"Losses are always frustrating," Connor Murphy said. "When you have a few in a row (at this time), it does seem to feel heavier than earlier in the season than when maybe it's just one here and there. That's something that's just going to be the nature of it. That's the challenge and the important part of it is to take positives."
Mattias Janmark and Dylan Strome each scored in the loss as Kevin Lankinen made 19 stops on the night.

Here are three takeaways from the loss:

STROME RETURNS

Following an 11-game absence dating back to Feb. 19 while in concussion protocol, Strome returned to the lineup on Thursday night. The forward skated 17:17 of ice time while opening the majority of the game in a third-line winger role with Mattias Janmark and Ryan Carpenter. He found twine at the end of the first period, putting a chance past Andrei Vasilevskiy on the power play to tie the game, 2-2.
"It was nice to be back out there with the guys," he said. "Feeling a lot better. Did a lot of skating when I got back and so the legs felt good tonight but unfortunate we couldn't get the win."
"I thought he was really good," Colliton said. "Made a lot of plays, won some races, was strong on the puck. Very pleased with how he played."

His return to the lineup is a welcomed offensive re-addition, with four goals and four assists in 19 games prior to the injury.
"It will be great to see him back," Alex DeBrincat said of Strome's possible return pregame. "I know we've missed him. He brings that offensive ability to our team and can make a lot of plays. We're excited to get him back."

POWER AT PLAY

The Blackhawks power play found its footing again on Thursday night after being held off the scoresheet in three of the four games coming into the tilt in Tampa. Janmark and Strome each found the net with the man advantage in the opening period as the man advantage went 2-for-4 on the night overall.
"Duncs made a good quick-up play to Janny there and made a great play to beat his guy. Just went to the net, 2-on-1. (It was) under the stick and a little behind me, so I knew I had to get the stick around and get the rebound and luckily enough it went in. It felt good for sure. Never fun not playing, but nice to be back and helping the guys."
It was the fifth time in six games against the Lightning the Blackhawks scored a power-play goal, but the first multi-tally effort on the man advantage.
The Blackhawks have now recorded two or more power-play goals in a game six times this season, a feat they accomplished only three times in 70 regular-season games during the 2019-20 campaign.

MULTI MATTIAS

Janmark factored in both Chicago goals, scoring the opener off a redirect and driving the puck down the boards to setup Strome's tally with a primary assist. It was the fourth time this season Janmark has notched a goal and an assist in a game and the fifth multi-point effort of the year, matching a career high set in the 2017-18 campaign.

The tally put Janmark into double digits on the season in goals, also the first time he's done so since his career-best 2017-18 year.