Yeah, agree. Lightning played well enough and probably should've won, didn't take advantage of opportunities. Lightning surely could use some secondary scoring, Dmen scoring, and everyone else sinking their opportunities. Especially during 4:00 PP during 3rd period when 2-2. Plus Lightning got taste of own medicine and got Vasy'd. As unfortunate this was, one can only tip ones hat to that! Bob played well, but wish Lightning would've made him more uncomfortable with aggressive pressure. Hopefully Lightning can build off the positives, take advantage of opportunities, and get whole team contributing. Not going to freak out just yet, but it's get it done time for Lightning or go home.
<<< Below comes from all what I've read here after loses, not from quote taken >>>
Not going to talk of blowing team up, trading players, etc. either. Will wait until players/coaches are done battling for Lightning, themselves, and us fans in playoffs. But will say this now, BriseBois/Lightning have been dealt a tough hand. From having to deal with flattest cap any "Cup" winners have ever dealt with during cap era. GM is fair game right now, so.....
Dominant NHL teams, Cap growth from 1st "Cup" >> 2 yrs after last "Cup" won.
- Chicago 2010-2017 >> 75,000,000 - 56,000,000 = 21 mil growth to keep (7yrs).
- Pittsburgh 2009-2019 >> 79,000,000 - 56,000,00 = 23 mil growth to keep (10yrs).
- Lightning 2015-2024 >> 32,000,00 - 69,000,00 = 14 mil growth to keep (9yrs).
BriseBois/Lightning cap growth while trying to 3-peat.
- Lightning 2020-2023 >> 82,000,000 - 81,000,000 = 1 mil growth to keep (3yrs).
- Lightning 2019-2024 >> 83,000,000 - 79,000,000 = 4 mil growth to keep (5yrs).
Numbers above are rounded to million, and data is not 100% perfect, but very close to numbers. The above paints picture needed: we can see that during Lightning's most dominate run ever, they had to deal with scraps trying to keep it all together.
Lightning and GM's have dealt with smallest scraps any NHL powerhouse has ever dealt with during cap era. Especially at end of that awesome run! BriseBois has made some great production -vs- cost moves at beginning, and during 3-peat attempt. But some moves that weren't best cost -vs- production. But I doubt we're even this competitive without those moves made. Plus, I think trade cost GM paid for some players didn't help those players at all. I mean at all!!!! That was not smart by GM, but at same time... Wondering how many Lightning fans could've taken that.... "Cap-crap chicken sandwich" and turned into a decent "Cap chicken soup". It's never easy making chicken crap into chicken soup! GM/Lightning did OK considering Lightning didn't have much ingredients, or much left in cupboard to cook with. I'll leave rest for off-season talk after we have all of playoffs to consider. Trust me, not all is sunny times with GM.....
Go Lightning !!!!