The Tampa Bay Lightning had an incredible 2018-19 regular season in the NHL, amassing an outstanding 128 points and capturing the Presidents’ Trophy with an incredible sixty-two wins.
The Russian rifle himself, Nikita Kucherov, also had a personal best with 128 points, the most points by a player in Tampa Bay history. However, the team is now suddenly down three games to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, leaving everyone scratching their heads.
The series began in Tampa Bay last Wednesday night, and the Lightning had home-ice advantage, but it did not work out to their benefit. The Bolts fell in game one by a score of 4-3, leaving many fans shocked. Game two was Friday night and the Bolts fell 5-1, and the once hot Tampa Bay Lightning found themselves down in the series. Game 3 was not much better and to make things worse, Kucherov was suspended. Now on the verge of getting swept, a bit of panic by the players and fans has set in.
Tampa head coach Jon Cooper told the media that facing Columbus was like dealing with a “five-alarm fire” but his team isn’t used to handling adversity like they have in this round of the playoffs.
Kucherov was out for the Lightning due to a one-game suspension for boarding Columbus forward Markus Nutivaara in game two. If the biggest names do not start showing up for Tampa, their Bolts may soon be burnt out.
[…] between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Columbus Blue Jackets was sure to be an interesting one. Tampa Bay dominated the regular season with 128 points and captured the Presidents’ Trophy. While […]
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