Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperMatt18
I'd agree with this.
Quenneville implemented the structure that put that Panthers team on the right track, then acquiring Tkachuk and Forsling becoming an elite defender is what pushed them over the top and changed their style a bit.
In those final two years that Quenneville started as coach the Panthers had 3.75 GF per game and 2.81 against.
Under Maurice in their three finals years they 3.22 GF per game, and 2.79 against.
So their actually defensive results didn't get substantially better but they were grittier and harder to play against based on the player acquisitions.
The Lightning regressing, Bob finding his old form, and the acquisition of Tkachuk just made them a better playoff team.
It's pretty clear that Tampa and Florida have been the best playoff teams of the last 6 years, but they kept having to play each other, and would also beat the crap out of each other.
It was just Tampa aging out and losing some players due to the cap that opened the door up for Florida and coincided with some shrewd acquisitions.
If you could somehow freeze time and have the 19-22 Lightning teams at their peak play the 23-25 Panthers team at their peak you'd probably have some of the best hockey you've ever seen.
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Lots of parallels to 1988 and 1989 Flames