re: Stanley Cup Playoff Thread!

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The Lightning have been awful tonight.

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Yeah, the Lightning played terrible last night. The Lightning are so Dr. Jekyll/Mr Hyde with their play, they're either good or bad. There's no in between with them and its been that way all year long. Plus, the Lightning have a bad habit of waiting until their on hot-coals before they wake-up. Their like a kid who keeps playing with fire or waits until the last minute to do their homework. They'll eventually get burned doing this, but they haven't gotten burnt to bad yet. I'm afraid this young team will eventually get burnt though, if they keep waiting until their backs are against the wall, to react properly. Who knows? Could be this series, but them getting burnt might be what it takes for this young Lightning team to play with urgency all the time.

Plus, the Lightning have done a good job of not letting bad/unfortunate outcomes effect their play lately, but I think that unfortunate off-sides call got to them down & out last night. They looked dejected after that tough call and with the Lightning already off their game. That call sucked what life they had out and that good goal energy could've pushed the Lightning to good things. This team feeds off moments like that, but what is done is done. Regardless, they should've put it behind them like they've done beforehand. Either way, the NHL needs to get rid of that off-sides challenge stuff this off-season. It really ruins the game flow without question. More than not, it effects things that have nothing to do with the outcome of the play. I'm OK when an offside is called that totally effects the outcome of the play, but it seems it erases bad defensive play more than not, when comparing it to what the rule was intended to do. The rule is total bunk and more than not this post season, an out for bad defensive play. The Pens were all lost and beat at the end of that play but were given an out. The Lightning would've score regardless during that play and that weak off-sides had nothing to do with that scored goal. What's that old saying? The punishment doesn't fit the crime works here.....

This series deserved a game 7 and may the best team win. This series has been all over the place with both teams having their moments. The Lightning been here before and the Lightning will have to overcome historical odds against them again. Only thing is, they'll have to do it without a healthy Bishop in net this time around. Can they overcome huge odds on-the-road like this, we'll see.....

Hopefully the other series goes to a 7th game, so we fans get two game 7's. Nothing personal Shark fans, we just love playoff Hockey.

Go Lightning !!!!