After all, the Lightning still ended a five-game, 10-day road trip at 3-2. More than the 7-1 loss to the Sharks on Tuesday, the 3-2 loss to the Coyotes should be the game that gets you mad. That's because Tampa Bay should have won that game. It had no chance against the Sharks, who are in a different league.

The other thing about Tuesday's game is that the Lightning were really depleted by injuries on the blue line. Matt Smaby is on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. Steve Eminger was out with an upper-body injury and Paul Ranger, who did not seem as if he was hurt in Monday's game, was scratched with an upper-body injury. Is it the same upper-body injury that kept him out of three games earlier, we don't know.

And just for good measure, forward Paul Szczechura left the Sharks game in the second period with a lower-body injury and did not return.

Filling the gaps on the blue line were rookies Vladimir Mihalik and Kevin Quick, who made his NHL debut and played 15:40 and even got a shot on goal. Mihalik was minus-2 and a little rougher. David Koci tried to chip in on the blue line, but the Sharks attack was too persistent and goalie Karri Ramo was left out to dry a few too many times as San Jose outshot Tampa Bay 42-25.

But, anyway, back to the original question. Do we look at the glass half empty or half full for this road trip. I am of the half full side only because of the kind of season it has been. It's been bad, right? So a 3-2 road trip out west, not so bad, I guess, especially considering the injuries to the blue line.

Besides, as coach Rick Tocchet said of the Sharks, "That's a hell of a hockey club. The guys tried back there (on defense) but it's tough. You're asking for a lot these guys coming up here and playing against (Joe) Thornton and those guys. That's a tall order."

What's Tocchet's perspective on the 3-2 trip?

"That's what I said between periods, don't throw it away by quitting, so."

So, did he think the Lightning quit?

"Nah, I don't think the guys quit. I just think we're a little banged up. It's one of those things."

Here's another one of those things. The Lightning plays 12 of its next 15 games at home. Since the team is only gone 4-7-7 at home, again, is that a glass half empty or half full? We'll see.