Photos: Blues fall in Tampa to the Lightning
St. Louis Blues left wing Nathan Walker (26) works around Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
St. Louis Blues center Zack Bolduc (76) gets past Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg (78) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
St. Louis Blues center Zack Bolduc (76) steals the puck from Tampa Bay Lightning center Michael Eyssimont (23) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
St. Louis Blues right wing Alexey Toropchenko (13) tries to control the puck after getting around Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Nick Perbix (48) ties up St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko (55) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (71) celebrates his goal against the St. Louis Blues with defenseman Victor Hedman (77) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
St. Louis Blues left wing Nathan Walker (26) takes the puck from Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) snocks the puck away from St. Louis Blues left wing Nathan Walker (26) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. Defending for the Lightning is Victor Hedman. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak (81) knocks the puck away from Blues forwards Pavel Buchnevich (89) and Jake Neighbours (63) in front of goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the first period of a game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Tampa, Fla.
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Nick Perbix (48) celebrates his goal against the St. Louis Blues with right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) stops a shot by Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
St. Louis Blues left wing Pavel Buchnevich (89) celebrates after scoring past Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg (78) gets off a shot after skating past St. Louis Blues center Dylan Holloway (81) and defenseman Ryan Suter (22) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning center Gage Goncalves (93) celebrates after scoring against the St. Louis Blues during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Lightning center Luke Glendening (11) controls the puck between Blues defenseman Scott Perunovich (48) and forward Zack Bolduc (76) during the second period of a game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Tampa, Fla.
St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer (30) stops a shot by Tampa Bay Lightning center Luke Glendening (11) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg (78) and St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn (10) fight in front of linesman Derek Nansen (70) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) celebrates with defenseman Emil Lilleberg (78) after an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
St. Louis Blues center Jordan Kyrou (25) gets held up by Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Nick Perbix (48) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
St. Louis Blues right wing Alexey Toropchenko (13) gets past Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
The Blues dropped below .500 for the first time since Jim Montgomery pulled them up from three games under.
In a 3-1 loss to the Lightning on Thursday night at Amalie Arena, the Blues couldn’t solve Andrei Vasilevskiy as they lost for the fourth time in the last five games.