*OFFICIAL 2022 Tampa Bay Lightning Thread*

[Buc2]

After a shaky start in the playoffs, Vasy has only allowed 1 goal in each of the last 4 games. He started off today making 3 huge saves before the Bolts finally got on the board with their first goal. The dude is on another plane of existence.

[King Bootz]

Okay so if the Lightning end up winning this series against the Panthers, who is the better matchup for them in the next round? New Your or North Carolina?

[Rocker]

Okay so if the Lightning end up winning this series against the Panthers, who is the better matchup for them in the next round? New Your or North Carolina?

I would say New York.

[Digital_Damage]

Okay so if the Lightning end up winning this series against the Panthers, who is the better matchup for them in the next round? New Your or North Carolina?

I would say New York.

Based on their inexperience I would agree.

[Buc2]

Okay so if the Lightning end up winning this series against the Panthers, who is the better matchup for them in the next round? New Your or North Carolina?

Probably NY. NY plays some nasty defense, though. And, by nasty, I mean borderline outlaws. But, nothing the Lightning shouldn't be able to handle. The Hurricanes are one of the best teams in the league right now and would be the tougher out, imo.

[Kress]

To reel it back in to this series, you have to like the quick turnaround given what just happened. Florida is still reeling, and they have to go right back out there.

[Buc2]

To reel it back in to this series, you have to like the quick turnaround given what just happened. Florida is still reeling, and they have to go right back out there.

I was not too fond of the back-to-back games on the schedule when I first saw it, but, given the way the series has gone, this has to favor the Bolts by a lot.

[Kress]

Local radio is reporting several Panthers players were seen at a skrip club last night. I can't find anything on it online but, if true, holy hell. Mail it in.

[Snake]

Lightning on the path to being a true dynasty.

[Buc2]

Local radio is reporting several Panthers players were seen at a skrip club last night. I can't find anything on it online but, if true, holy hell. Mail it in.

Guys got to unwind after a beatdown like that.

► Show Spoiler

[Kress]

There looks to be a big ass storm forming. I mean, literally. Just leaving work, and the sky is black over there. Look out if you plan to go to Thunder Alley. Because.... actual lightning.

[_MB_]

There looks to be a big ass storm forming. I mean, literally. Just leaving work, and the sky is black over there. Look out if you plan to go to Thunder Alley. Because.... actual lightning.

Thor gonna catch the game.

[Kress]

Good God. Playoff hockey is awesome.

[Kress]

I'm not going to say it yet. But you know what I'm going to say. But I'm going to wait to say it.....

[Kress]

I'm not going to say it yet. But you know what I'm going to say. But I'm going to wait to say it.....

ANOTHER series-clinching shutout. 49 saves. That's stupid. That's seriously stupid.

[Nano]

Vasy is just a human cheat code.

[Kress]

I'm listening to the post-game.... The Panthers were held to one goal just three times all season. That's the entire season. Eighty-two games, and it was three times total. TB just did it to them four games in a row.

Oh yeah, and the Panthers were never once shut out all season. The entire season. Not once. TB just did it to them in an elimination game.

I think I need to go have some private time.

[King Bootz]

I'm not going to say it yet. But you know what I'm going to say. But I'm going to wait to say it.....

ANOTHER series-clinching shutout. 49 saves. That's stupid. That's seriously stupid.

Is he the best goalie in the league? That was pretty exciting to watch tonight with all of those saves.

[King Bootz]

That quickie of a series was probably what the Lightning needed after that series against Toronto.

[Kress]

ANOTHER series-clinching shutout. 49 saves. That's stupid. That's seriously stupid.

Is he the best goalie in the league? That was pretty exciting to watch tonight with all of those saves.

I think you said you are still relatively new to the sport, but yes. Yes he is. If he keeps doing what he's doing, he is not just the best in the league, he is headed for the Mount Rushmore of goalies. You're watching 2014-ish Tom Brady.

Pick the best ever. Brodeur. Hasek. Roy. Ummmmmm.... Vasy?

[Phantom]

Vasy is the best goalie in my lifetime. IMO

[Phantom]

Is anyone watching Edmonton game? They’re really good. McDavid and Kane

[Buc2]

Based on this article, it doesn't sound like Point is even close to making it back anytime soon...

Goal: Play long enough to get Point back

That’s how Lightning frame their playoffs after losing the center in Game 7 vs. the Leafs.

BY EDUARDO A. ENCINA

Times Staff Writer

TAMPA — Steven Stamkos knows what it’s like having to watch while teammates chase greatness.

“The worst feeling as an athlete is not being able to perform, especially at this time of the year,” said Stamkos, who missed all but 2 minutes, 47 seconds of the Lightning’s 2020 run to the first of back-to-back Stanley Cup championships with a core muscle injury.

Center Brayden Point was injured in Game 7 of this year’s first-round series against the Maple Leafs and remains out. Point, who led the league with 28 goals over the past two postseasons, was the Lightning’s top two-way performer against Toronto before his injury, neutralizing 60-goal scorer Auston Matthews and scoring the deciding goal in a must-win Game 6.

Late in the first period of Game 7, Point was chasing the puck on the forecheck. As he turned toward the boards, he lost an edge and his right leg twisted awkwardly under his body. He was in tremendous pain as he held his upper leg. He struggled to get to the bench, and he couldn’t get any power from his legs without pain when he tried to return in the following period. The team is calling it a lower-body injury.

Almost two weeks later, Point doesn’t appear close to a return. Coach Jon Cooper initially said Point was day-to-day but has since backed away from that assessment. Point is aiming to return — teammates say he’s working out — but he has yet to resume skating with the team, an indication that he’s more week-to-week than day-to-day.

If you want to read the rest of the article...

► Show Spoiler

“He’s a huge part of our team, and he’s a big presence in the (locker) room, too,” defenseman Mikhail Sergachev said. “He’s fun to be around, and whenever somebody goes down, they’re always with the guys and they’re always part of the team.”

The Lightning’s layoff before the start of the Eastern Conference final — the second-round sweep of Florida ended Monday, and the second-round series between the Hurricanes and Rangers won’t end until at least Saturday — helps the likelihood that Point can return during the postseason.

The Lightning’s attitude is that the longer they play, the better the odds that Point can return.

“We know how important he is to our team and the caliber of player that he is and what he’s done in these past couple of (Cup) runs,” Stamkos said. “We just hope there’s enough time for him to get back and play this playoffs. We’d all love to see ‘Pointer’ back on the ice and be playing with us.”

When it was clear Point would not be able to return in Game 7 against Toronto, he grabbed a tablet and began helping and encouraging teammates from the bench. It’s a part of the Lightning’s makeup that every player wants to do his part, even if he can’t be on the ice, to contribute to winning.

When Point was injured, few would have predicted the Lightning would survive that night, let alone go on to sweep the Panthers.

“They just want to win. They want to keep going,” Lightning assistant coach Jeff Halpern said. “I think this group has, like, a schoolyard mentality. When you win, you keep playing, and they don’t want to give up the court.

“I don’t think there’s any way (Point) was getting off that bench (in Game 7). I think he’s probably still trying to figure out a way to help in some way because he is such a competitor.”

When the Lightning advanced to the 2020 Cup final, Stamkos returned in Game 3 and scored on his third of five shifts before reaggravating his injury. The Lightning won the title in six games, and Stamkos emerged from the locker room in uniform to accept the Cup and celebrate with it.

In the last regular season, the Lightning used Nikita Kucherov’s season-long recovery from hip surgery as motivation that if they made it to the postseason, he’d return. Kucherov was tremendous in those playoffs, despite playing the final six games with a cracked rib and wearing a protective flak jacket.

Also in the last postseason, forward Alex Killorn broke his left fibula in Game 1 of the Cup final against the Canadiens. He had a metal rod inserted to give the bone stability with the hope of returning for Game 6 or 7. The Lightning won in five games.

Point is “working his butt off” to return, Stamkos said.

“He’s got so much respect in the dressing room, and he brings that kind of light-hearted energy to the room, too,” Stamkos said.

“You have a choice. Are you going to be a guy that’s kind of moping around, or you’re going to be a guy that is working hard and being around the guys and trying to help out as much as you can, and that’s what Pointer’s doing.”

[Kress]

I'm watching the Rangers and Hurricanes, and I'm torn. I think the Hurricanes are the better team, but I also think we match better against them.

It's a toss-up.

[Digital_Damage]

It is going to be a tough series regardless of who we play.

Like I said at the start of the season, NY was the third best team in the East in my book.

NY's has amazing skill, but not the experience.

Carolina has the Team balance and the experience.

I would still choose to play against NY in the hopes we can get them out of their game and grind it out.

[Phantom]

So it’s official

Rangers vs Lightning!!!

[BJJ34]

Fuck you guys… you don’t deserve this great team!


That Avs/Oilers series is gonna be fun, aye?

[nybf]

I'm going to need you guys to stop being such dogshit. I need Shesterkin to get 30 saves for my parlay.

[The Outsider]

Fuck off. Have fun with Mecha-Vasilevski the rest of the series.

[nybf]

I'm no rangers fan. I'm an odds boost fan.

[The Outsider]

I'm no rangers fan. I'm an odds boost fan.

I forget, you like the shittier, but more palatable NY teams.

[_MB_]

I'm no rangers fan. I'm an odds boost fan.

I forget, you like the shittier, but more palatable NY teams.

I had this poster in my room when I was 12. Do the devils count as one of those more palatable NY teams?

[nybf]

I had that same poster. That'd about as far as my love of hockey goes.

I watch during the playoffs because it's always exciting, but I don't care one bit about regular season or any particular team. Gun to my head, I would probably pick the Islanders because of the whole Drive for Five when I was a kid.

[_MB_]

I had that same poster.

Had a poster of a Ferrari Testarossa next to it.

Being into Chicks and cars is what being a 12 year old kid is all about in 1989.

My first CD came that Christmas...

► Show Spoiler

Go Bolts

[Digital_Damage]

Hands down one of the most undiscipline games I have seen from Tampa in 4 years.

They tried to go toe to toe with a team significantly younger and quicker. They completely fell out of their game plan after NY's third goal.

I expect Cooper to hammer it into them big time.