TB Lightning Playoff Thread 2023

Since Tampa entered the league:

Stanley Cups:
City of Tampa - 3
Nation of Canada - 1

The one Canadian cup was Tampa's expansion season I believe.

 

I like you more and more with each post.

 

Stony Creek, eh? We used to go curling in Oakville and points east, all the way to Brockville

Go Wings

 

I don't think they will be too rash this off-season, they will want to see if this years lethargy is from all the deep runs and extra games the last few years. Guys have also earned the right for one more collective shot.
But if next year is the same, they will blow up the roster.

 

Detroit
NY Rangers
Boston
Chicago
Montreal
Toronto

 

Go Wings

 

I Have alot of respect for Tampa and their team. Heart of a Champion... I backed out of discusion here halfway thru series because I hate debating every call. NHL refs in playoffs are frustrating. And absolutly the high stick at end of game 6 should have been called just like high stick with 90 seconds left in game 5 should have been called. By "letting t them play" the refs do affect the game. Because they take power plays out of game which teams like Tampa and Toronto rely on for offense.

The key to series was Leafs finally pulling Justin Hall from lineup in game 6. With Holl off the ice the Leafs outscored Lightning 20-5.....He was on ice for 16 Tampa Goals|!

But it is funny saying Canada sucks at hockey when 1/2 your roster is Canadian players, including your captain and Braydon Point. Also close to 500 players in NHL are Canadian. Yes NHL teams have wilted under the pressure for awhile now. It is 100% fair to say Canadian NHL teams have underperformed for awhile

Tampa is not going anywhere and will be right back, the weather and tax rate will make them a desirable destination for top talent to go along with a well run management group.

Oh and I was catching up on the last 3-4 games chat on this thread and love that a Habs fan is on a Gator site talking about the Leafs when his team hasnt finished above 500 since 2018-2019 season and their team was eliminated from the postseason on Novemnber 7th.

 

Panthers in awe after ousting 'unbelievable' Bruins

Lot of favs out after first round this year. Kraken, Leafs and Panthers move forward. New Cup Champion this year.

Tampa Bay has done a nice job of staying relevant for many years. Well run franchise. Wonder if Father Time has caught up with them? I was a big Islander fan growing up. Bossy was my favorite player. They put together a great run and then Wayne came.

 

Speaking of Boston.

 

Kraken win 1st playoff series, oust champion Avs

 

The high stick in game 5 was fake. Its all over twitter with even the big name writers calling it out as embellishment. The stick hit him IN THE LEG.

And obviously I meant the NHL teams have stunk. I get that Canada has longer winters and hockey is the sport those kids all play growing up unlike here where we have all 4 major sports in almost every big market it seems.

But that Point goal was reviewed. Even Biz was saying it should be a goal. That cost us game 3. Period.

Game 4 was a choke job, but we should at least be playing a game 7 tonight and the high stick would jave put us on the PP in OT.

But comparing the two high sticks is dead wrong. One never even happened.

Here is the fake high stick:

 

That series really hurt. I don't think Boston was very well prepared. I was worried late in the season that there was so much hype around them breaking the wins record that they wouldn't be ready for the playoffs and I don't think they were.

I give a lot of credit to the Panthers. They had a really good game plan and just wanted it more than Boston.

 

I take it you are from Michigan if you like the Wings and curled, not many curlers in Florida! Brockville is a lovely town on the St. Lawrence, I have friends that live there and of course Oakville is close to where I live, Hamilton was home of the Jr. Red Wings back in the day so there are lots of Red Wing fans around here as well!

 

Not from Michigan but lived there over 10 years and been to many great Wings games. Seen the Cup but unfortunately never got the opportunity to drink out of it. We curled in bonspiels all up and down the Lake Ontario shoreline. One of my favorite towns is Kingston

 

We also owned a lake house in Colchester for 3 years. Southernmost town in all of Canada!

 

I see the Panthers are banning ticket sales to non Florida residents, I noticed quite a few Leaf shirts at Tampa's home games! Tickets are so expensive for Leaf home games some fans were grabbing cheap flights to Florida and much cheaper game tickets!

 

There were a lot of bruins in sunrise too.

 

I think you should read the analogy I posted about Habs/Leafs being similar to Florida/Georgia, I am sure you are not one to cheer for the Habs when they are the last Canadian team remaining and that's ok! Our record hasn't been good lately, it seems like a constant rebuild, you would know a little about that but I do remember the last time we played a play off series and your Leafers some how coughed up a 3-1 lead! It's all good fun, enjoy the play offs however long they last for you!

 

How could any true Gator fan support a team from a city where the flagship rock station has done this:
Q107 Toronto | TOM PETTY FROM FLORIDA IS BANNED