We need to talk about Tampa

[LevelingSolo]

Deboer will be the head coach in roughly 3 weeks

 

[HansonBro]

They need Vasilevskiy to get his **** together.

Slither.io has joined up with the NHL...

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Deboer will be the head coach in roughly 3 weeks

Might be to late by then

 

[OKR]

It’s pretty weird, i saw more games from them last year but they lost every game i saw from them, even with that record, now this year they have a worse record but they’ve won every game i’ve seen from them this year.

 

[topshelf331]

They are searching for a new identity. They didnt have post season success with the identity that got them the presidents trophy. Look out if they find a new way to win. And I think they will be dangerous by playoff time.

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

I think there is and I think this is it especially if Toronto wins because if that happens that means Tampa would be 6 back of Toronto and 5 back of Florida.

That is quite the hole and I know the blues did it but the first signs of life happened in December.

Tampa has shown NO signs of life.

Last year on Dec 22 the Blues also had 45% pts pct.

Tampa is currently at 56%.

These games are not even close to must-wins right now.

 

[StlBill]

I hear Mike Yeo’s ready for another shot

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I would still be surprised if they missed the playoffs from this point.
The Lighning definitely aren’t playing great but they have a bunch of games in hand on the rest of the division. And they have way too much talent and history of good play not to figure it out.

Games in hand only matter if you win.

Tampa so far hasn't made them matter

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Last year on Dec 22 the Blues also had 45% pts pct.

Tampa is currently at 56%.

These games are not even close to must-wins right now.

They can't afford to lose much more ground.

 

[Bounces R Way]

They are not going to give a shit until March. And neither should anyone else.

 

[HanSolo]

We don't need to talk about anything when you really get down to it.

 

[HanSolo]

Last year on Dec 22 the Blues also had 45% pts pct.

Tampa is currently at 56%.

These games are not even close to must-wins right now.

This is a pretty weak argument. What the Blues accomplished required no room for error and is a pretty huge anomaly in the modern NHL.

 

[Melkor]

I'm going with a hot take here. I don't think they are good or will be good this season. This team relies on it's PP too much. If you stifle it they look very average and I got the same impression even back in 2018 playoffs when they were playing the Caps. The PP was red hot, outside of that they got badly outplayed in every area of the game. Now they're not getting the same goaltending they did in the past and the picture is even worse. I don't think they're winning anything this year but probably they'll be able to make the playoffs and get thrown out no later than the 2nd round if they make a coaching change in time.

 

[Melkor]

They are not going to give a **** until March. And neither should anyone else.

Nobody makes the playoffs by accumulating just 35-40 pts in the standings. I mean that's what you get if you start give a shit just in March.

 

[Maelmoor]

To simplify things. Goaltending.

They've played really well in general since the Global Series but not managed to translate it to the points reflecting their play. Main reason is that the goaltending has not been good enough. Even with decent goaltending we wouldn't be having this thread..

So, as long as Vasi can bounce back, we will be fine.

 

[daver]

You would like to say they are in somewhat cruise control and will turn it up when they need to but they certainly didn't earn that benefit of the doubt after their 1st round exit last year.

 

[Alberta_OReilly_Fan]

hasnt tampa been the most overrated team in the nhl for the past 4-5 years? its true they had a couple very impressive regular seasons... but they also missed the playoffs and has a 97 point season. if they fail to hit 100 points this year that would be 3 out of 5 seasons very mediocre with this core

and its not like they have added much glory in playoffs. a couple final four appearances is ok... but people have been calling this team elite... the one to beat... the beast of the east

their cap spent a hell of a lot on some support players that are living on reputation. the depth is now melting away. I think yzerman knew well what he was doing bailing ship here.

no doubt that top line is still amazing... a 1-2 punch at defense that Is second to none... a goaltender capable of being the best in the world...

if the depth came through this team could still finish the second half strong... but imho they arent built for the playoffs. sadly I think this core has peaked. its too bad because if money had been spent more carefully I think this team could have been better

 

[JoVel]

Cooper has lost the room and Vasy is gifting their opponents games left right and center.

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

Surely you do not actually believe me posting this thread will lead to a 10 game streak for Tampa

surely you don’t believe Tampa is not capable of going on a 10 game winning streak.

 

[Paul4587]

Tampa is going to be just fine.

 

[Seanaconda]

Highly HIGHLY doubt it.

tbh their team is insane and last year they basically won whenever they felt like it so its not just good on paper. kucherov is always a slow starter and he has been pouting but he got benched then scored three points the team just needs to wake up

 

[Sam Spade]

Once this gets fixed they will be fine:

Also they still have games in hand on everyone chasing playoffs except the Rangers.

Firing the coach in season seems to be the magic ticket to a Cup win........

 

[John Eichel da GOAT]

I wanted tot start a thread like this a few times over the past month but the underlying everything shows they’ll figure it out and take out the garbage teams in the Atlantic that don’t deserve to be there like Buffalo.

but this thread lost me at “must win”

 

[LightningStrikes]

Our goaltending sucks

 

[Coopers Gum]

I'm going with a hot take here. I don't think they are good or will be good this season. This team relies on it's PP too much. If you stifle it they look very average and I got the same impression even back in 2018 playoffs when they were playing the Caps. The PP was red hot, outside of that they got badly outplayed in every area of the game. Now they're not getting the same goaltending they did in the past and the picture is even worse. I don't think they're winning anything this year but probably they'll be able to make the playoffs and get thrown out no later than the 2nd round if they make a coaching change in time.

This isnt a hot take. It's the truth. Posters on the Lightning board havent quite caught on to the fact that our PP is actually f***ing amazing (despite going 0/7 last night) and our 5 on 5 is middling at best. Same thing as any playoffs the Bolts have ever played pretty much. This, and shitty goaltending explains why the Lightning are where they're at. What's more, is that I was firmly in the #firecooper camp for a long time; but the team has played so well in the past week or so (minus last night), dominating teams, but just not translating to wins. I dunno how I feel about that, because you feel like at some point, of they keep playing games like that, the ship will right itself. Law of averages.