Steven Stamkos describes his own team as 'fragile.'

The Tampa Bay Lightning are trending downwards after having lost five of their last six games and members of the team aren't happy with those results.

In a recent article penned for the Tampa Bay Times, multiple members of the Lightning roster shared their thoughts on this current slump, but it was the comments from Stamkos that really stood out. Stamkos seemed to indicate that his team lacked the mental fortitude required to win in recent weeks, and went so far as to describe the team's mentality as fragile.

"We're playing like a fragile team that's scared to lose and not hungry to close out a game," said Stamkos as per the Tampa Bay Times.

Stamkos clearly believes the team has been too hesitant in their play, whether that's as a result of second guessing themselves, or perhaps playing not to lose rather than playing to win, is hard to say from the outside, but Stamkos described it as a fear of losing.

"We can't let that fear of losing creep in at this time of year."

[pub]