This early playoff exit is this main core first early playoff exit that wasn't expected, they deserves another year without blowing things up to much. So many reasons to why this happened, but a few stand out to me. First, the Lightning ran into a buzz-saw in Columbus and the Lightning not playing their best Hockey was a recipe for what we all witnessed. The Lightning couldn't afford to play with minimal effort like what we witnessed during most of this series; Columbus was bringing way to much heat for all that happened. Columbus acted and player like team that wanted to play into the playoff and the Lightning didn't have that same fire or will behind them. Sure, game 1's outcome stunk, but it took way to long for the Lightning players to play with the needed effort to be successful within NHL playoffs. I'm curious to see how well Columbus does moving forward, and I want to see if the Lightning were just this bad right now or Columbus is just that good. I think it's a little of both, but time might shed some light on this. We'll get a better picture these next few rounds.....
Secondly, one thing that bothers me about Cooper is his feelings that fate, and breaks playing such a deciding role to how far one continues in the NHL playoffs. You see, teams can take of the demeanor of their head coaches and I've witnessed this happening throughout sports. Lightning have become mentality softer overtime and they're not the same team that use to play with a "We won't be denied attitude!!" After the whole Lightning bench and the world realized that the awesome Hedman was toast these playoffs from injury (He was still in cloud-9, shouldn't have played in game 1 or 2 if ya ask me). Sure, seemed like this Lightning team packed it in mentally after game one debacle. The soft identity Cooper has help create over the years in real for this team, the fog has set in folks. The players sure looked completely lost, not interested in playing lights-out-hockey, and were ruined after Hedman had such a game one collapse. Game 4 was way too late to finally show some kind of fight, way too late. But having such a passive, soft, excuse making head coach like Cooper doesn't help when things go bad, and its past time for a little tough love so this core becomes mentality tough enough, but I don't think this will ever come from HC Cooper (Maybe a no-nonsense assistant, who knows?) Cooper has been telling this Lightning team over, and over, and over and over after tough playoff loses.... "That's it's just not meant to be for the team, the bounces will be there next time around, and things just didn't go your way because fate wasn't our friend, but next time things just might work out for us". A team starts to take on the demeanor of GC and starts to believe what they're told over and over. When this team realized Hedman was toast, they'd most likely take on their head coaches reasoning instead of hunkering down. Instead of digging in their heels, they tucked, played tight, and the will to win was nowhere to be seen. I could see the players saying after game one debacle......."Well, that's the breaks and maybe next time we have everything go our way" Matter of fact, I think some of the players were quoted saying this type of stuff after this series. In terrible moments like losing teammates to injury (Look to how Canes reacted after teammate go blown up), blowing a 3-0 game leads, etc. You need the team to come together, you need them to fight even harder, and having the right leader to push them through these tough times would be nice. Instead of just sitting back thinking Dr. Goodbreaks will save us all!!!
This team folded like Superman on Laundry day this series!!!!!!! They seemed content with packing it in when faced with finally faced with some adversity. Plus, playing a darn good Columbus team poured gas onto an already healthy lit fire. Cooper is like the parent who makes every excuse in the book for their kids after failure, they blame everyone else for what took place, and even will grab at chance if there’s nothing else to blame. Hopefully this team gets mentally stronger or they’ll fold when their talent doesn’t cover up their shortcomings.
This whole Lightning team and coaching staff need to take a trip and stay @ a summer camp where they make you tougher, no excuses, and you're willing to run through walls to reach your dreams afterwards. Anyone know of a place? Mr. T's summer camp?? Something??????
