Well here we are.. Game 7. The Lightning have hosted Game 7 at home 5 times in their history and are 4-1. The most recent is a loss to the Caps in 2018.
Which team will flinch first and make the mistake that could flip the game and the series in the balance? Who will be the unsung hero? Who will be our Fedetenko tonight?
I cannot shake the feeling of Kucherov having himself a night. He has been engaged, kept with the shooting mentality, but has only found the net once this series. Maybe it’s wishful thinking…
Win or lose for MTL, they will have taken a big step for the franchise and young core of players who will be vying to replicate the same success as the Lightning.
Win for Tampa, the recent 1st Round demons are expelled.
Loss for Tampa.. those 1st Round demons will live on. JBB, Cooper, and the old guard of this core will be staring down the barrel of some incredibly hard questions after 4 straight 1st Round exits. And the reality that significant change could be possible.
Crazy to believe this Lightning franchise have built up a standard that a game like this (especially after recent playoff history) can define whether or not this season was a success or failure. This is the playoffs and the only things that matter are results.
Right now all I can think is the feeling of Round 1 in 2015. MTL is a version of Tampa and Tampa is a version of Detroit. Let this script be different, a script that will see the Bolts blue move on for a group not ready to usher in a new era of upcoming teams in the East.
Gimme your thoughts for tonight ⚡️⚡️⚡️