How far does Tampa go in the playoffs this year?

[Golden_Jet]

Tampa wins round one
Then not sure if they can beat Florida in the second round.

I’m saying every team would not be and it’s purely an excuse.

Funny how from the two years Tampa won the cup, they played just 4 more games total than the New York Islanders and nobody brings up the same crap with the Isles

and what about the third year since they went to cup final 3 times.
Not many will agree with you. Cheers we’re done.

 

[JimmyApples]

If Tampa lost to the team that chokes every year, does that mean they also choked last year? What about Boston vs. Florida?

Just because you won one playoff round in 20+ years, doesn’t mean you don’t choke every year.

 

[Rob Brown]

Just because you won one playoff round in 20+ years, doesn’t mean you don’t choke every year.

I asked a pretty simple question that you ignored and reverted to your usual schtick, but what else is new.

 

[Sypher04]

Tampa wins round one
Then not sure if they can beat Florida in the second round.


and what about the third year since they went to cup final 3 times.
Not many will agree with you. Cheers we’re done.

Ah, so that’s the arbitrary cut off then? It’s that third final that did them in, eh? If the argument is that fatigue carries over through months of rest to the next season, then it really shouldn’t matter how many playoff runs we are talking about. The reality is, it doesn’t and as I said to begin all this, it’s just excuses made by some the last 2 years when it became apparent the leafs and bolts were evenly matched.

Whether they stick their neck out or not in this chat, I’d wager no shortage of people agree with what I’ve said.

In either case, have a good one.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Sergachev is practicing again in no contact jersey, which is baffling considering the injury. A real long shot, but he might make it back for the first round, more realistic the second round. Raddysh has been a surprising defenseman this year.

That's good to hear that he's practicing with the team. It's tough to come back from an injury that he had and just jump right into playoff hockey from the get go. It's also risky and he could get reinjured again. Since I would expect Cooper to give him heavy minutes right away.

 

[leafsfan5]

Plenty of wishful thinking in this thread. Tampa has holes itself these days. High end talent but little depth. Their PP will need to carry them to any series win.

Luckily for them, they play in a fashion that leads to games coming down to special teams

Tampa Bay since Jan 1:

26-13-3 (.655 points%), for comparison the Bruins have a points% of .656 during that time
#6 in xGA/60 at 5v5
#1 PP in the league (28.9%)
#2 PK in the league (85.8%)

Low-event hockey at 5v5 led by an elite defense and let the best special teams in the league run their course. It'll likely come down to Vasi, if he can play at an elite level they're going to win a couple rounds once again

 

[GoldenSeal]

This year I feel like any team can go the distance. Just have to stay consistent and make your opponent pay when you can. Tampa knows what it takes to win it all.

 

[Master P]

 

[CupsOverCash]

Depends on vasi and the rest of their top players but their d has really not been great and I'm not sure they have a good enough d to get by some of the higher skilled teams in the playoffs. Not quite as deep as years past. I think they're playing pretty well at the right time. Probably depends most on vasi because they will score goals on their pp chances and are good enough to score plenty off it too. Depth and d is maybe their kryptonite.

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

Honest answer - I don’t think we have the depth to hang with the real contenders in the league but we’re capable of at least winning a series. Vasilevskiy can change all of that though.

 

[PROUD PAPA]

Voted conference final but nothing would actually surprise me with those guys.

 

[AndreRoy]

What changed since they lost to Toronto in the 1st round last year?

For one thing they got back all the players the Leafs injured with cheap shots. If the Lightning had taken out Matthews, Rielly, and Knies that would have had a major impact on the outcome of the series too.

 

[SensFactor]

Boston in 6

 

[flying squirrel]

Honest answer - I don’t think we have the depth to hang with the real contenders in the league but we’re capable of at least winning a series. Vasilevskiy can change all of that though.

This^^^^^
Was already thinking this, even during the great stretches this season. But..... now with a few late injures these last few games, thinking if anything takes this group down, depth will contribute more than anything else. Especially if recently injured Motte or Gendening aren't back healthy. With depth being destroyed last 2-3 yrs, Lightning could not afford to lose face-off specialist or PK specialist that also gives great 3rd & 4th line minutes. Lightning depth is to thin to afford that these playoffs.

Lightning are victims of bad timing from flattest-cap: at the end of 6 ECF's, 4 SCF's, and 2 "Cups" run. Lightning had like 2 Million over 4 yrs during 3 SCF's in-a-row.. Flat-cap did a number of many NHL teams, but Lightning were at top of the hill when this flat cap-storm hit. No other past "Cup" winners dealt with the crumbs Lightning had/have after dominating: Lightning had like 2 million cap growth over 3-4 yrs to keep that juggernaut of a team together? Yeah, right..... but gotta give Lightning's GM his due here. He found some helpful contracts & great players to fill voids and this helped keep Lightning's core very competitive. They just couldn't afford injuries though!!! We'll see how it plays out, and never bet against this bunch because they hate to lose, but they've got their work cut of for them these playoffs. Vasy will have to be on in net to balance things out......

 

[Johnny Tomala]

Second round exit.

 

[Rschmitz]

Miles caught up to us last year, but I think this year we'll be able to make another deep run. Really depends on if Vasilevskiy shits the bed again

 

[Hobnobs]

So their 3 elite players are more well rested.
And that makes up for their entire depth sucking balls?

Their 3rd line for their last cup run had 3x 20 goal scorers:
Gourde, Coleman, and Killorn.

Sucking balls? Compared to who in this seasons playoffs?

And I know it's hard but that wasn't their 3rd line.

 

[Danarqhy]

Stanley Cup finals. Never underestimate the power of the Kooch.

 

[Zerotonine]

6 games if there lucky....

 

[bov]

If anyone actually paid attention to the series against Toronto last year, Tampa was clearly the better team. It took some surreal late game chokes, and Vasilevskiy's worst playoff performance to date for the Leafs to win. Even league average goaltending for TB wins them that series handily. It actually left me optimistic that this team has another deep run left in them.

I'd lean towards TB over Boston and Florida, but wouldn't bet on it. Canes and Leafs are the biggest challenge, followed by Rangers. Also not sleeping on Penguins if they sneak in, they seem to give the Lightning trouble.

The league is too darn good to assume any series victory, but I would not be shocked to see TB get to the finals either

 

[dalewood12]

I feel like they're in their Penguins 2019-2022 phase. First round loss.

 

[JoVel]

They will lose in the first round.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

They’ve had a great team forever. This year I think Florida takes them though.

 

[Lolonegoal]

Vasi
Hedman
Kucherov
Stamkos
Point
Hagel
Cirelli
Paul
Duclair

not too shabby

I suppose they go as far as all their D-men not named Hedman allow them to

Some players on that list are not like the others..

Why do they all look fat

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

For one thing they got back all the players the Leafs injured with cheap shots. If the Lightning had taken out Matthews, Rielly, and Knies that would have had a major impact on the outcome of the series too.

Hopefully Vasi learned to goaltend again because his numbers vs Toronto were pretty brutal.