It's a sad ending to a successful season. There's never any shame in losing to a better team, and Tampa is definitely that. And for me at least, the Lightning are a team I enjoy watching, so there's no bitter aftertaste of losing to an unlikable team.
Looking at the bigger picture, I don't put any extra blame on the Game 5 loss to Toronto and extending that series. If we are going to say that, we might as well bring up the blown game against Florida to end the season that would have earned them an easier first round opponent as well as home ice against Tampa (not that that mattered).
Instead I would say the lack of killer instinct hurt them both times, as well as the numerous early leads they surrendered to both Toronto and Tampa.
And if we say the condensed schedule hurt them toward the end, we must also acknowledge the extra rest benefited them prior.
I really like Bruce Cassidy and think he learned valuable lessons. First of all, the team needs better starts to stop surrendering early leads (which also happened in the regular season), and he needs to be better matching lines at home. Starting Game 7 against Toronto with the 4th line was a blunder, as was having Gionta/Donato on the ice for the overtime loser in Game 4.
I've been reading Tom Brady's book and he discusses how he trains to avoid injury. Unfortunately for the B's, some of their injuries are just freak accidents, like Carlo's and Nash's.
I believe the future is bright, but it's incumbent on the front office not to rest on their laurels. Regression is possible, just ask Edmonton.
So it stings a little now, but it was a fun, unexpected ride this year.