Pre-Game Talk: 2014-15 Playoffs - ECQF: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Detroit Red Wings

[Lord Stan 2020]

i hate this matchup my heart is bleeding in two my two teams i want to do well at all times just sucks fun to watch but we should be favored with the goaltending they are favored with experience.

is that simple we are the better team but i say 6 or 7 and we win will not be easy at all

i think we legit can win cup but not sure we are ready awful young and winning the cup is tough lol

no team scares me we can matchup with anyone we will see how it unfolds

we are legit but soo inexperienced so young etc.. not sure what to expect

think we win (would we then get montreal since in league?) think we beat montreal then ny then st louis and win the cup.

just my two cents but we are young

but look at the seahawks we are primed we got here a year earlier then i expected very happy see how this goes

we are winning a cup soon just not sure if do it out of gate

 

[LightningStrikes]

Added poll.



Schedule:

Thursday, April 16
7:30 PM EDT at Tampa Bay

Saturday, April 18
3:00 PM EDT at Tampa Bay

Tuesday, April 21
7:00 PM EDT at Detroit

Thursday, April 23
7:00 PM EDT at Detroit

Saturday, April 25
TBA at Tampa Bay

Monday, April 27
TBA at Detroit

Wednesday, April 29
TBA at Tampa Bay

http://www.nhl.com/ice/schedulebymonth.htm?team=TBL

 

[Hoek]

I picked Bolts in 7. I think we get caught off guard by a veteran team at first but then we find our legs and roll on.

 

[These Are The Days]

In this day and age almost any and all series at the NHL level can be winnable if played correctly and that's certainly the case here for us. If the Lightning youngsters can not let the bright lights stun them and they can play as well in the playoffs as they have in the regular season, I think we have a fantastic opportunity to win the series. Despite this Detroit IS NOT going to go down easily and they're probably the most perfect test for this young Lightning club in round 1 due to the solid mix of veteran players who have won the Cup and youngsters like Tatar and Nyquist who beat the likes of Palat and Johnson back in the Calder Cup Finals. It's important that the young Lightning don't get frustrated if Howard gets on a hot streak too.

The Wings DID NOT have a good end to their season and they're going to be out to prove themselves. I just hope the kids are ready for war.

Series SHOULD be Lightning in 6 due to Detroit's constant inconsistencies but inconsistency of our own can mean Detroit in 5 just as easily.

 

[FinnLightning26]

I expect big playoffs from Bishop. He's a guy who raises his game everytime the stakes get high and he has something to prove. He could easily be our MVP and we'll need him. Goalie is the single most improtant player on the team especially in the playoffs.

The key is to get a good start. We can't have a situation where we're down 2-0 after the first two home games. If we can take the first two games I'm really confident we'll take the series. Absolute minimum is to have the series tied after the first two. If we're trailing again we're going to be in big trouble.

I hope we take this in five games. Overall I think we're the stronger team but the Wings can beat us in a single game if it goes to seven games.

 

[TampaBayLightning]

Bishop and the playoffs, can niot wait

 

[Kramerica Industries]

Was not expecting a matinee in this series. Game 2 just became a nuisance that, I guess, at least I have a week to figure out how to solve.

 

[Stamper]

Voted Tampa in 5, but could very well be Tampa in 6. Either Stamkos or Palat as Mvp.

 

[Leonardo87]

Ok, so who is going to Game 1 and 2?

I'll be there!

 

[Kristia]

Tampa in 5 or 6.

 

[CupsOverCash]

I'll be at game two. I think we can take the wings down. I want the Sens to take out the Habs but also want us to get revenge in rd 2. Compromise. Sens take Habs to 7 and wear them out doing so only to come short. We take out the Habs in the second round. Then take out the Rangers in the ECF would be epic!

 

[Bolto]

Bolts in 5.

I'll be at games 2 and 5.

Kuch gets the mvp for round 1.

 

[FDfranklin]

Bolts in 5. I'll be at game 2, trying to by game 1 tickets now. I'm not a fan of the early game, we always suck at those.

 

[Hoek]

I'll be at game two. I think we can take the wings down. I want the Sens to take out the Habs but also want us to get revenge in rd 2. Compromise. Sens take Habs to 7 and wear them out doing so only to come short. We take out the Habs in the second round. Then take out the Rangers in the ECF would be epic!

I like your script!

 

[Vasilevskiy]

I say we win in 5... I feel confident as long as we don't play against the isles

 

[The Macho King]

Not scared of Detroit at all. Their top 6 can be a handful, but a (mostly) healthy D can match up with them. Their D is garbage, and neither Mrazek or Howard put the fear of God in me.

We outmatch them at every position. Should be a short series.

 

[Brie]

I have no idea how this will go, I hope we can keep our focus and go in ready for battle, if we do and if we play our game I don't see how we can't do well.

I'm a bit unhappy with the 3pm start on Saturday because this team have pretty much no expereince starting games early (as we saw the only game we did that which was also against DET and we got shutout) but I hope they learned from that and don't want to do it again.

 

[Iceman]

Depending on the health among our dmen, 5 or 6.

 

[Volodya Krutov]

The first 2 games will be absolutely crucial for TB.

 

[FDfranklin]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/series.htm?season=20142015&series=b

Click Game Prediction at the bottom

 

[2MinutesforGiraffing]

Ok, so who is going to Game 1 and 2?

I'll be there!

Of course I'll be there!

 

[ThunderAlleyNomad]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/series.htm?season=20142015&series=b

Click Game Prediction at the bottom

Well that was, interesting. Not how I'm seeing it play out myself.

 

[Vasilevskiy]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/series.htm?season=20142015&series=b

Click Game Prediction at the bottom

Doesn't look very legit... I would stick with an octopus choosing sides before that

 

[Kramerica Industries]

I'm glad we aren't doing our usual superstitious act of picking the Lightning to fail here, and you know why? Because it's a way of trying to hide from expectations, and that's a losers approach this time of the year. Tampa Bay is the favorite to win this series? They should be, and we should embrace that. It's by no means a guarantee that they will win this series; small sample sizes can produce unusual results and this team could also just capitulate in shocking ways to Detroit, who knows, but there's no reason to hide from Detroit here. We are all comfortable against them; we all think this team matches up well against them. My biggest area of concern in a head-to-head aspect is the fact that Detroit is one of the best shot-generating power plays in the league, so limiting power plays is going to be essential. However, the 5v5 game favors Tampa Bay here, the goaltending favors Tampa Bay even if just because we don't know which direction Detroit is leaning in (I'd lean Mrazek personally), and if the Lightning blueline can get healthy this week, I'd give them the edge there, too (Detroit's blueline is nothing special).

This favors Tampa Bay. I'm glad we embrace this.

 

[Major4Boarding]

Scheduling (TV) - Thanks to fellow mod Fenway for the find

Thursday 7:30: CNBC
Saturday 3PM: NBC
Tuesday 21st 7pm- NBCSN
Thursday 23rd 7pm - NBCSN