TB Lightning Playoff Thread 2023

Go Bolts!

 

Lol. Was just coming to start this. Good job sir!

Love the grit and forechecking in game one.
Bolts were a buzzsaw all night.

Almost like that switch was flipped that we have been waiting for. Leafs went full thug and its left us shorthanded though.

I think Vassy will have to stand on his head tonight, if Hedman cant go and with EC and ME already out with concussions. Need the top line to lead, but it was great to see that school bus line catch fire with PEB, Big Rig and Perry having a big night.

Dont be satisfied with stealing home ice. Go ahead and deepen the hole.

 

Got a hole to dig out of

 

Thugs got what they wanted.
The league should have suspended both guys the other night instead of just one for those head shots but Tampa was left playing AHL guys on the backend and ot showed last night. The "Player Safety" dept is a joke.

Oh well we stole home ice advantage. Lets see if we can heal up and go home and do our thing.

 

I hate that the league let the hit on Mikey go unchecked. Really wasnt a lot different than the one on Cernak.

And I think Tampa needs to look at NBA style load management for Hedman during the regular season. He is always beat up by playoff time because of how he plays.

Really missing McDonough now that the playoffs are here.

I honestly d9nt expect a deep run with so many new young guys and some old guys that honestly need to probably go in the offseason. (He entire Schoolbus 4th line as much as we love them).

But this team surprised me last year so...

 

The Bunting suspension is a blessing in disguise for Leafs, jarnkrok onto top line and OReily moves back to 3rd line.

Thugs? Bunting hit was as dirty as it comes and those hits need to be taken out of game but not sure what the other hit you spoke of? And in 3rd of game one leafs just gave up and ran out clock but in 3rd last night Tampa went full goon hockey and had how many players ejected?

Tampa is standard in the east only losing 1 of last 12 series but anyone that knows hockey knows leafs are the furthest thing from goons, they get ripped daily up hear for playing with no sandpaper

Funny to read comments that leafs are thugs because I have not heard that from any fan base with this team. It has been the biggest critism of them for years.

Tampa is champs of eastern conference for 3 years and will be that till someone can beat them 4 of 7 but leafs …thugs…ha ha

 

McCabe on Eysimont that put him into concussion protocol? That arm/elbow isnt even on his stick. Clear follow through of the elbow to the head or neck area.

Bolts bench went nuts.

 

I dont think they are goons in the Marchand or Wilson sense, but they were playing reckless and with what looks like intent on Tuesday.

No one on Tampa was headhunting last night. I mean Maroon got ejected for a hit that might not even be a penalty in a closer game, but certainly no hits finished at the head and neck.

 

Point just got cheap spotted into the boards head first.
Toronto have been nothing but freakin goons this series.

 

Yep and no penalty on Toronto, they ended up with Power Play. And the guy who delivered the cheap shot and originally sent off the ice scores the tying and winning goals. And don't forget the goal TB scored that was disallowed because refs said it was covered up. Goalie never had it.

 

They have had some great fortune the last few years and were due for some bad luck. But tonight was one of the more frustrating games I can remember.

 

Keep in mind this sport is run by Canadians

 

Maybe the biggest screwjob for one of my teams since the Swindle.

That puck was in before any whistle. There are multiple shots confirming.

Bunch of cowards in the league office. Which is in Toronto btw.

Still no Cernak and Eyssimont due to the cheap shots in game one.

And my goodness did their "officiating expert" bend over backward to defend the refs and the hit on Pointer.

4 premature whistles last night. TWICE on goals and TWICE on delayed penalty 6 on 5 chances when Toronto never possessed the puck.

 

The Point hit was not a penalty. He fell awkwardly, it was reviewed and no penalty. He is an amazing player and glad he came back after a few minutes, It looked like he was really hurt so glad he is okay