GDT: 4/18/23 - 7:30PM EDT - #3 Tampa Bay @ #2 Toronto [ECQF GAME 1]

[StaySalty]

Request one in the playoff avatar thread.

Thank you sir

 

[Stammertime91]

Pk: "Darren raddysh? Is that how you pronounce his name? Great pick up"


Yes. Great pick up from the AHL.

 

[Felonious Python]

 

[Stormbreaker]

 

[UseYourHedman]

You KNOW the leafs gotta be talking about 2019 and the 3-0 the Bolts had in game 1

 

[DrMartinVanNostrand]

This start actually has me nervious. Playing like trash in game 1 has taken the Bolts to 3 straight finals

We didn't really play like trash in either the 2020 or 2021 playoff openers. They were two completely opposite games - a low-scoring, historically long 5OT game and a 5-4 barnburner with the winning goal in the last 90 seconds - but I thought we played fine both times. Now, last year, getting waxed 5-0 in Game 1...different story.

 

[DaBolts]

 

[Stormbreaker]

So much pain.

 

[Wester]

Haha this was funny

 

[Point21]

in other news, Taj Bradley just tossed 5 1/3 IP with only 3 hits allowed and 9 K's

 

[DrMartinVanNostrand]

Any time I see clips of the Avs with the Cup last year, celebrating in our building...can't lie, it stings. 2021 and 2022 couldn't have been more the opposite for Tampa sports in that regard...win the Super Bowl at Raymond James, win the Cup at Amalie, and then get knocked out of the playoffs in a heartbreaker at Ray Jay and see the other team lift the Cup at Amalie the next year.

 

[Stammertime91]

Lmao a collective funeral

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

View attachment 691261

Break out the sad Michael Jordans

 

[Summer Rose]

Let’s not take our foot off the gas.

 

[Master P]

We didn't really play like trash in either the 2020 or 2021 playoff openers. They were two completely opposite games - a low-scoring, historically long 5OT game and a 5-4 barnburner with the winning goal in the last 90 seconds - but I thought we played fine both times. Now, last year, getting waxed 5-0 in Game 1...different story.

I think they just know what works and what doesn't work. The word "experience" gets tossed around a lot but I think we just saw it in that first period.

 

[Stormbreaker]

2nd periods have been abysmal all year make sure that switch is still on.

 

[Bozo Nicholson]

Good news guys: Jack Eichel got a good night's sleep.

 

[DFC]

View attachment 691261

Trying pretty hard to be the most hated man in Canada.

The Heartbreak Kid, Nikita Kuuuucherov!

 

[RDTBay4]

I expect Toronto to come out flying in the 2nd. Hopefully the switch is really flipped.

 

[Bozo Nicholson]

Trying pretty hard to be the most hated man in Canada.

The Heartbreak Kid, Nikita Kuuuucherov!

He thinks he's cute. He knows he's sexy.

He's got the looks that drive the Leafs wild.

 

[StaySalty]

You KNOW the leafs gotta be talking about 2019 and the 3-0 the Bolts had in game 1

I would be sick. I can stomach losing in a 7 game series but leave that nightmare at the door.

 

[DistantThunderRep]

Keefe isn't playing the matchups properly. He's 100% going to stack the top two lines for the rest of the game.

 

[AHockeyFanatic]

I was not expecting this but also typical Tampa. lol

 

[Sky04]

Get a 4th quick

 

[DrMartinVanNostrand]

I think they just know what works and what doesn't work. The word "experience" gets tossed around a lot but I think we just saw it in that first period.

We've clearly joked about it a lot, not only in recent weeks but also last year, but "flipping the switch" exists for a reason. When you've made three deep playoff runs in the last three years, when you know that home/road doesn't really make much difference for you (when you consider the bubble, the Lightning have only had a true "home ice advantage" in 2 of their past 12 playoff rounds), and when you know you've been locked into your playoff opponent for several months...yeah, some of those games just don't really get you up for them mentally and emotionally. The regular season isn't where the bread is buttered, the playoffs are. Whether this team is good enough talent-wise to make a deep run is another matter, but I've never been concerned about the mental side of their game. We all should've expected them to be ready for that.