Tampa Bay Lightning first Presidents Trophy winners to be swept in first round

[Aoko]

That does seem a little absurd. I mean, going undefeated for 16 games in a row is difficult, to say the least...






(No, of course it's not going to happen. But seriously, considering that that particular streak started against Tampa Bay, it fit too well to not make the reference.)

Ride the high, it's worth the lows any day.

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

Devastating for the franchise. Probably their steongest roster to be had for a while but they can always win in another year soon when they put it all together. Good enough core to keep going for a while

 

[North Country]

You really can't even consider the regular season any where near the same game as the playoffs. Tampa is a PERFECTLY designed regular season team with very small, fast and skilled forwards that have great success when physical play is not cranked way up in the regular season. They are also unknowingly set up to fail against much bigger and stronger teams that now give their all physically in the playoffs.

 

[Backcheckmonster3]

Maybe the bolts shoulda focused on preparing for the playoffs instead of feeding Kucherov points?

Luckily your team is nowhere near that situation...

About Tampa, anything but full focus in professional sports playoffs is a recipe for disaster.

 

[nbwingsfan]

You really can't even consider the regular season any where near the same game as the playoffs. Tampa is a PERFECTLY designed regular season team with very small, fast and skilled forwards that have great success when physical play is not cranked way up in the regular season. They are also unknowingly set up to fail against much bigger and stronger teams that now give their all physically in the playoffs.

Not really true.

They aren't smaller than many teams.

Their D consists of:
Hedman - 6'6, 225pds
McDonagh - 6'1 , 215pds
Sergachev - 6'3 , 215pds
Coburn - 6,5 , 225pds
Stralman - 5'11, 195pds (only small D who didn't even play this post season)
Cernak - 6'4, 225pds
Girardi - 6'2, 212pds

That's one of the biggest and strongest D in the NHL.

Plus out if their forwards, only Point and Johnson would be considered small players who avoid contact.

Add in that they made game 7 of the ECF last season and the whole "aren't built for the playoffs" excuse doesn't fly with this team.

To me it looked like an overconfident team who thought they would cost past the Jackets and didn't have the leadership to overcome adversity and get them to get their head out of their ass.

 

[T REX]

You really can't even consider the regular season any where near the same game as the playoffs. Tampa is a PERFECTLY designed regular season team with very small, fast and skilled forwards that have great success when physical play is not cranked way up in the regular season. They are also unknowingly set up to fail against much bigger and stronger teams that now give their all physically in the playoffs.

I don't disagree with the generality of your post, HOWEVER they've lost to the SC Champs 3/4 years before this one losing two game 7's and a game 6.

This year is different. There's something much worse going on...

 

[North Country]

Not really true.

They aren't smaller than many teams.

Their D consists of:
Hedman - 6'6, 225pds
McDonagh - 6'1 , 215pds
Sergachev - 6'3 , 215pds
Coburn - 6,5 , 225pds
Stralman - 5'11, 195pds (only small D who didn't even play this post season)
Cernak - 6'4, 225pds
Girardi - 6'2, 212pds

That's one of the biggest and strongest D in the NHL.

Plus out if their forwards, only Point and Johnson would be considered small players who avoid contact.

Add in that they made game 7 of the ECF last season and the whole "aren't built for the playoffs" excuse doesn't fly with this team.

To me it looked like an overconfident team who thought they would cost past the Jackets and didn't have the leadership to overcome adversity and get them to get their head out of their ass.

They're one of the smallest, if not the smallest in the league and I clearly said forwards.
They are definitely thee dominant regular season team recently, but bigger and stronger keeps prevailing on a more physical playoff stage.

 

[nbwingsfan]

They're one of the smallest, if not the smallest in the league and I clearly said forwards.
They are definitely thee dominant regular season team recently, but bigger and stronger keeps prevailing on a more physical playoff stage.

So how come they've been one of the more successful teams in the playoffs until this post season with the same core?

 

[TheUnusedCrayon]

Honestly most people who claim that a team choked don't actually watch the games. Sometimes the team that "choked" were the teams that dominated the other team but the goalie on the other end was a brick wall and they couldn't pull out a deserved win. However, in every game that series Tampa wasn't even close to being good enough to win. They got manhandled. This is a true choke, sad to say. I feel for the Tampa fans. That's gotta suck.

 

[JoVel]

If your fans Vote on their boards that they want their own team to be swept, then good riddance. That’s what they get

Well like 95% of those votes came from other teams' fans.

 

[JoVel]

This is absolutely hilarious.

Lost all respect for Jon Cooper with his obnoxious fist pump to Paquette after conducting a dirty play.

When was this?

 

[North Country]

So how come they've been one of the more successful teams in the playoffs until this post season with the same core?

Did you watch the series against Washington last year? I think it was game five that they came in with a game plan of hit everything in sight and then you could feel that Tampa was done in the series. There was too much size and strength for the Tampa forwards to deal with.

 

[nbwingsfan]

Did you watch the series against Washington last year? I think it was game five that they came in with a game plan of hit everything in sight and then you could feel that Tampa was done in the series. There was too much size and strength for the Tampa forwards to deal with.

Tampa won game 5 so I dunno about that.

 

[Sentinel]

Will anybody actually offer tactical analysis of this series? Something more than just sarcastic remarks?

 

[ECanuck]

That was a bad one..

I would say Boston blowing a 3-0 lead against Philly was the biggest I have seen. However, they won the cup the very next year I believe lol

Everyone talks about the leafs team blowing that game 7. That leafs team had no business being in a game 7 with Boston.

 

[North Country]

Tampa won game 5 so I dunno about that.

Redirect Notice

I wasn't sure what game it was, but knew they were done in the series as soon as Washington got physical with the much smaller Tampa team.

 

[unitedstars87]

Might be a bigger upset than Habs over Bruins in 1971.

I’m not that old

 

[nbwingsfan]

Redirect Notice

I wasn't sure what game it was, but knew they were done in the series as soon as Washington got physical with the much smaller Tampa team.

So if it's as easy as just playing physical against them, then how come they won 62 games? How come they were able to make the finals in 2015 and game 7 of the ECF in 2018? Why did the Caps not do this until game 6?

 

[AlphaCatalyst]

If Blues, Avs, or Stars win the cup they will have won less games all year than Tampa.

As a Lightning fan that is funny and depressing.

 

[North Country]

So if it's as easy as just playing physical against them, then how come they won 62 games? How come they were able to make the finals in 2015 and game 7 of the ECF in 2018? Why did the Caps not do this until game 6?

You'll have to ask the Caps why they changed their game plan to using their size advantage. I sure know Tampa seemed feeble after they did.

 

[Scotty Pucks]

How many times has a President's Trophy champion just straight up lost in the 1st round?

Hockey can be random.

 

[Supertack]

Can the Lightning be the first 16-0 playoff team

The dude that posted "1st round sweep. Book it" on March 19th (page 9), should drop the mic, raise arms is 'victory' motion, and walk off stage without saying another word.....

 

[Ladyfan]

I feel bad for the Tampa fans and the team. I was totally shocked.

 

[TomasHertlsRooster]

You really can't even consider the regular season any where near the same game as the playoffs. Tampa is a PERFECTLY designed regular season team with very small, fast and skilled forwards that have great success when physical play is not cranked way up in the regular season. They are also unknowingly set up to fail against much bigger and stronger teams that now give their all physically in the playoffs.

Tampa outhit Columbus in every game of this series.

 

[3074326]

Tampa outhit Columbus in every game of this series.

They never had the puck and were always chasing the Jackets. Makes sense.