Sounds like someone is at Stage 3.
Stage 3?
More like Stage 1.
Right now I think he's still refusing to believe the power his thread actually has.
Stage 2 most likely comes after Tampa gets that 10th win a row.
Stage 3? He'll finally accept the winning streak as something of his own creation, but he will also maintain that "Toronto will still be better"
Stage 4: Toronto won't be better
Stage 5: He'll have an epiphany once Tampa clinches the Atlantic and Toronto is destined to square off against Boston.....again.
Man this thread'll be fun to re-visit in a month or two.
Thanks, OP!