GDT: SCF Game #6 Avs vs Bolts: How bout "Obstructing our way to a Game 7 one crosscheck at a time?” Edition

[CasusBelli]

Packed house. Imagine all the unattended meth labs that are getting robbed right now in the Tampa area.

 

[mike14]

The Lightning just play gross, suffocating hockey. It’s effective but it’s painful. Between the million blocked shots and all of the interference and obstruction it’s not entertaining.

"If you want entertainment, go and watch a bunch of clowns" - Alan Durban, Stoke City manager

But yes, some very ugly, but successful hockey. Hard to watch as a neutral.
We're also seeming to see the answer to the question of what happens to these high offense West teams when they have to play defense as well and shoot against a competent goalie. Have to imagine the Avs are getting frustrated that things which have worked all postseason suddenly don't

 

[CasusBelli]

It’s amazing that Tampa gets calls because you would genuinely think the whistles were put away watching them play.

Words out of my mouth.

 

[Graves97]

So much for the Avs having their way with the East. This Tampa team is no joke. Obnoxious AF but equally effective.

90s devils. May as well have Lemaire behind the bench

 

[Brutananadilewski]

The Rangers didn't have as bad a period as the Avs are just having.

3 SOG?

 

[bouds]

How did they not call that obvious hook, almost dragged nichushkin down.

 

[mike14]

Tampa fans getting on the refs is kind of beautiful

 

[RangersFan1994]

17-4 in shots wow Rangers never got outshot that much. That is pretty bad

 

[CasusBelli]

90s devils. May as well have Lemaire behind the bench

Truth

 

[Boris Zubov]

For a period with such shot domination, it didn't feel like Tampa really controlled things. They blocked a ton of shots & most of their SOG were low percentage.

 

[Brutananadilewski]

So make the protective gear thinner?

If you're gonna block a shot, don't complain about a cracked rib or shattered ankle.

 

[NikC]

The Lightning just play gross, suffocating hockey. It’s effective but it’s painful. Between the million blocked shots and all of the interference and obstruction it’s not entertaining.

It looks like a marginal call on TB every time an opponent enters their zone... ???

 

[Rangerfan4life90]

Tampa legit is truly a different team after the first couple of games of a series, good lord.

 

[ArPanet]

wonder how much the altitude effected TB

 

[LokiDog]

It looks like a marginal call on TB every time an opponent enters their zone... ???

It does. It’s maddening as a neutral fan. During our series, I obviously had bias and so I thought maybe I’d respect their suffocating, always interfering defensive strangulation more watching them in a neutral matchup, but it’s actually seeming more egregious. Tampa should never get power plays because nothing gets called against them. In game 3 Vasilevsky faced 39 shots and Tampa blocked another 27??? That’s nuts.

 

[zlev]

tampa going to win this game 1-0

 

[mike14]

Possession masterpiece on the PP but pretty ugly goal.
Avs need that PP to stay hot

 

[Megustaelhockey]

tampa going to win this game 1-0

Nah.

They played with fire and it was hot.

 

[Boris Zubov]

Garbage call.. clean stick lift

 

[LokiDog]

I could watch the Colorado PP all day. The contrast between Colorado’s offense at its best and Tampa’s defense at it’s “best” is night and day. One is the death of entertaining hockey and one is the pinnacle of entertaining hockey.

 

[LokiDog]

Garbage call.. clean stick lift

Again, it’s amazing Tampa is able to get such weak calls in their favor with all they get away with.

 

[Kords]

Same phantom hook they called on KAM. Wonder if it's the same ref, too lazy to check.

 

[CLW]

He’s playing well tonight so far

Dagger

 

[LokiDog]

I feel like there were 4-5 missed hooks, holds and interferences on Tampa just between the last faceoff and that goal. Tampa gets away with everything.

 

[mike14]

Hedman went full Chytil there