But this was a sweep.
- hscesq

it was a Swiffer Wetjetting

When's the Presidents Trophy Parade?

Things will look better when we are watching the celebration

But this was a sweep.
- hscesq

I know, I just can't imagine. Other one seeds have lost to eight seeds but nothing like this.

Tampa clinched the President's Trophy with, what?, like three full weeks left in the regular season. Won 62 games. Was at the top of practically every category.

That's why I can't think of any other comparable situation like this in any of the major sports.

I know, I just can't imagine. Other one seeds have lost to eight seeds but nothing like this.

Tampa clinched the President's Trophy with, what?, like three full weeks left in the regular season. Won 62 games. Was at the top of practically every category.

That's why I can't think of any other comparable situation like this in any of the major sports.
- bcallaway

Not winning this handily, no.

To quote the late, great Jack Buck, "I don't believe what I just saw!"

Could this be the single biggest playoff collapse in the history of sport? It's hard to find something to compare this to.

This wasn't a fluke. Columbus dominated this series after the first period of game 1.

I'm shocked.

And being a Blues fan that remembers the President's Trophy upset against San Jose, I feel the fans' pain.
- bcallaway

How do you guys lose both games at home? Especially up 2-0 coming home

They are semi irrelevant since players pay a jock tax which means only the 41 home games the Lightning play are the advantage, unless the contract is bonus dollars only then it's a big advantage. They all pay the same taxes when they play in Boston.
- Kucherovski

A large part of many contracts are bonus-laden so you are still looking at tax on less than two-thirds for many players which is not an irrelevant consideration in any sense.

I was watching the Islanders crush the souls of the Penguins but during the post game report, one of the analysts, I believe it was Kelly Hrudey, mentioned that Tampa hasn't played a meaningful game in months. While Columbus and the Isles and Pens, for that matter, were playing for their hockey lives and playoff positions, Tampa clinched the President's trophy in January. I know it was later than that, but they have been on cruise control since then and it is easy for some other car to pass you on the highway when you have your car on cruise, regardless of how fast you're going. Tampa forgot to check the rear view mirror.

Just a perfect storm of events...
Cbus being loads better than most imagined-
Bob going full on brick wall -
Tampa w/o 77 & lack of desire on F backcheck D-
Cooper with poor personnel mngmnt -
Coupled with Cbus relentless pressure adds up too getting broomed-
- dozerD10

Wow, unfortunately looks not unlike a summary of the Pens/Isles series, with an identical outcome:

NYI being loads better than anyone imagined (ok, maybe not LOADS)
Lehner going full on brick wall
Pitt w/o nobody & lack of desire on F backcheck D
Sullivan with poor personnel mngmnt
Coupled with NYI relentless pressure adds up too getting broomed

Columbus just did what Nashville did to Chicago not too long ago. In each case, you had a coach who did not adjust. It was painfully evident in both cases.

Tampa players also looked unmotivated, and had little to no heart for the majority of the series. That goes on both the coach and the players.

Columbus just did what Nashville did to Chicago not too long ago. In each case, you had a coach who did not adjust. It was painfully evident in both cases.

Tampa players also looked unmotivated, and had little to no heart for the majority of the series. That goes on both the coach and the players.
- ItHossaGood

Cooper was stammering for an answer with the in game interview. Never seen a coach so at a loss for words, and it was early.

90% Cooper's fault. Plain and simple. Torts out-coached him.

Coop should have rested his stars down the stretch, instead of getting Hedman hurt in a meaningless game against Washington. Giving Girardi ice-time. Sticking to line combos that clearly were not working in a playoff environment.

Cooper sucks.

😂😂😂

GM JBB just said Cooper is staying in his press conference. Will be interesting to see now what happens this off season.