ECQF: Tampa Bay Lightning (A1) v Columbus Blue Jackets (WC2) — JACKETS WIN SERIES 4-0

[Coach]

[dammage79]

Not overly a fan of calling people out but Cali......brother....hoooooo doggy!!!

[browna]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Now people will see this and think 'man, if we can make some huge deals maybe our team can do what Columbus did.'

I think it's really good for us fans.

Even more relevant, it will lead to even greater delusion will be used by Oilers management, media and fans for the next decade.

[chummer]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I actually did lose $100 to Enoch Root so I suppose you can take solace in that. It's quite a stunner that the Lightning could have a regular season like this only to get swept in four games. I'm still not exactly sure how it happened. I credit Tortorella, his staff, and the players for believing in themselves and executing but I still feel this is a series that the Lightning lost because they are clearly better than this.

A lot of money was lost on Tampa tonight.

Good man for paying your bets.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Now that he doesn’t coach a team I hate, I love Torts. And anyone that hates Brooksy that much is OK in my books.

[Ducay]

Knew CBJ was the team to give Tampa a run for the money, but a sweep? Never would have guessed.


Sadly reminds me of the Flames here. Regular season flash may not translate into post-season success

[tvp2003]

Reminds me of the 2012 LA Kings torching everyone on their way to a Cup as the #8 seed in the West. One down, three to go...

[dammage79]

What a treat for their fans too. That's a cup level celebration. Only because that's their first series win. All in front of the home crowd too. CLB is going to be a hot bed of fan insanity!

[timbit]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Did I hear that right? First time the top NHL team has been swept in round 1 since 1938!

If my math is right, that is 81 years ago. Unreal.

Do you remember that Reggie Dunlop?

[Erick Estrada]

I'm now a Jackets fan for at least the 2nd round. Don't particularly like the Bruins and the Leafs are Oilers east.

[868904]

Fancy schmancy hockey only works in the regular season. You need a grittier brand of hockey in the playoffs to win.

The Lightning and the Flames first line play the same way. Always looking for the perfect set up; however, in the playoffs, those wide open passing lanes and time and space are gone and those plays just don't happen. You can't look for that extra pass, you just have to take the shot when you get it and make sure you bare down.

The playoffs are a simple game. You have to play it direct and to the point.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I'm now a Jackets fan for at least the 2nd round. Don't particularly like the Bruins and the Leafs are Oilers east.

In either city, Torts is going to be the main act for the media. But yes, prefer to see Clb dispose of either of those two teams.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Last year: expansion team predicted to finish near basement of league. Finishes near the top of the league and makes the Stanley Cup Final.

This year: best hockey team in decades in the regular season not only loses to mediocre regular season team with erratic coach from franchise that has never won a playoff round, but gets swept.

This sport feels pretty damned random sometimes.

[shermanator]

Tampa won the same number of playoff games as the Oilers and Canucks combined this year...

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

loses to mediocre regular season team

This isn’t close to accurate.

[TheScorpion]

Columbus is a great example of a team gelling at the right time. That team has talent on paper that comes damn close to equalling Tampa's. They just had trouble finding that final gear, the correct level of execution.

Well, not anymore, by the looks of it. They could very easily go all the way with a lineup that deep.

[Erick Estrada]

I think sometimes teams that have a playoff spot locked up sometimes just lose their intensity and before they know it a team that's had to claw their way into the playoffs has them on the ropes. You see it in NFL at times where favored teams with the bye just don't show up against a Wildcard opponent that is on a roll. Maybe teams have to look at having their coach crack the whip with regulars in the lineup right up to game 82.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

This isn’t close to accurate.

47 wins and 98 points doesn’t sound mediocre but they did finish 13th of 31 teams. It’s close.

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by chummer

A lot of money was lost on Tampa tonight.

Good man for paying your bets.

I lost several bets (game 1, game 2, the series and some props on Kuch and Stankos to get points early in the series) lol. Not a good week at all.

But I take solic in the fact that most of it was earned betting on Tampa all regular season. Tampa giveth and Tampa taketh away.

[Lanny_McDonald]

One of the most shocking results I can remember. Wow.