Quote:
Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan
Here's the problem with making predictions: It's based on past information. Since there was countless evidence to suggest that the first game from Tampa Bay was an aberration, it wasn't ridiculous to make the claims I did. I don't know why I'm being singled out for those thoughts when they would be perfectly rational at the time, but go ahead, pile on.
Hands up those of you who had Tampa Bay suddenly forgetting how to play hockey. A team that dominated everyone in the league, including the Flames who were the 2nd best team and the top team in the West. This was a team that had everything a team needs to roll through the playoffs. They still do. If they figure out how to respond to this situation appropriately and fix their mental approach/effort level etc., they will be their old unstoppable selves.
It wouldn't surprise me at all to see Tampa storm back in this series. It also wouldn't surprise me at this point to see the Blue Jackets win the series in 5 or 6 games. The landscape has shifted drastically for the Lightning, but I don't think anyone should have logically expected this to happen, at least not to this extent.
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Meh...I didn't see this coming. I said that the chance of something like this happening was higher than a lot of people were considering.
It's not the Tampa isn't the better team - they are. I won't ever argue Columbus is better.
But:
1) Columbus is better than a lot of people have given them credit for, with game breakers in their top 6, lots of depth up front and an impressive top-4 defense
2) Columbus has the best goalie in the league
3) going into the playoffs, Tampa hadn't faced adversity all year
If you seriously consider each of these points above in tandem with each other, there seemed to be a clear pathway for Columbus to win. Bob plays lights out. Tampa doesn't know how to deal with adversity. And the teams match up better than the standings (or columbus's play this regular season) suggested.