Michael Stuart: Swept

Losing Bishop, what's wrong with him BTW, really was the difference in this series.

Losing Bishop, what's wrong with him BTW, really was the difference in this series.
- LeftCoaster

elbow I believe

Losing Bishop, what's wrong with him BTW, really was the difference in this series.
- LeftCoaster

Dislocated elbow.

And I don't think it was the difference. Was it a factor? Maybe. The difference? I don't think so. He also has a lingering wrist issue that may need surgery.

elbow I believe
- hamiltonhabfan

Ouch!

no bishop.no problem

Dislocated elbow.

And I don't think it was the difference. Was it a factor? Maybe. The difference? I don't think so. He also has a lingering wrist issue that may need surgery.
- Michael_Stuart

I think they would have won a game with Bishop.

Dislocated elbow.

And I don't think it was the difference. Was it a factor? Maybe. The difference? I don't think so. He also has a lingering wrist issue that may need surgery.
- Michael_Stuart

It was a huge difference. Lindback is not an NHL goalie at this point.


As you said in the blog, good future for your team

I think they would have won a game with Bishop.
- benny948

Yeah, but I'm not sure it changes the eventual outcome.

At best it's 2-2 right now.

Dislocated elbow.

And I don't think it was the difference. Was it a factor? Maybe. The difference? I don't think so. He also has a lingering wrist issue that may need surgery.
- Michael_Stuart

Huge difference to me, the Bolts played differently all year with Bishop in net, seems they trusted him and it allowed them to play their game... with Linder they didn't play their game all year.

Now do I believe he is the sole reason NO but he was a big factor as he gave up soft goals in crucial points of games.

Yeah, but I'm not sure it changes the eventual outcome.

At best it's 2-2 right now.
- Michael_Stuart

Ok so Bishop in its 2-2... lots of hockey to play... with Lindback no more hockey.

Tampa has a very bright future they have the best player in the world(IMO) good mix of speed and size

All seriousness, congrats on a good season with a ending. Look at the positives... young team, emergence pf several young players, playing a fun style of hockey to watch. The year shows Yzerman is up to being a good gm. better luck next year Tampa fans.

I said from the beginning, Kristers was the answer.

Swept........in the first round...........playing horribly............with little offense.....
and poor goaltending........welcome to the Canucks perspective of the last 2 years

Hey, at least you made the playoffs

I said from the beginning, Kristers was the answer.
- mykokes

Don't think so.

I think these 2 teams were very similar in the regular season. Their starting goalies excel. In the playoffs, one of the starting goalers was missing!

I'm not going to sit here and cry about an extra month or 2 of hockey when I really barely expected this team to hold onto the last wildcard spot at the very very most. It sucks Richard going out this way, especially when I know we could have played so much better, but oh well. It is what it is, and next year is going to be an amazing experience. These guys have nothing to be ashamed of. I only am left with 1 irritation, why wasn't stamkos out there instead of brown, paquette, and johnson(?) I know they played well, but you need the #1 goal scorer out there instead of 1 of them at least, thats my opinion anyway. Oh well, Great season.

Dislocated elbow.

And I don't think it was the difference. Was it a factor? Maybe. The difference? I don't think so. He also has a lingering wrist issue that may need surgery.
- Michael_Stuart

I don't know if it was the difference, but Tampa got good goaltending for a period and a half during the series, and we saw how much more confident the whole team was. Definitely wouldn't have ended in four games.

Don't think so.
- Michael_Stuart

Mike i had/have a hunch about him....you're going to have a goalie controversy between him and Vas in a few years time. There are two types of good goalies, those that are positionally great, and those that have amazing instincts. He's definitely the latter.

Bolt Prospects ‏@BoltProspects 2m
As bitter as this sweep tastes, it feels, in the bigger picture like a new era, with TB a regular fixture in the playoffs, has dawned.

Can't say it any better than that

Riley the Bolts showed heart and went down swinging... they fought hard without their top goal tender... the Stammer injury and St Louis debacle... they are so young... they learned so much... Stamkos is now the C... I am proud of this team, can't wait to see what they do in the offseason, Drouin with the big club, a healthy Stamkos all year, a year under the belt of all the rookies. I do feel the Bolts are going to be for real for a while to come.

I'm not going to sit here and cry about an extra month or 2 of hockey when I really barely expected this team to hold onto the last wildcard spot at the very very most. It sucks Richard going out this way, especially when I know we could have played so much better, but oh well. It is what it is, and next year is going to be an amazing experience. These guys have nothing to be ashamed of. I only am left with 1 irritation, why wasn't stamkos out there instead of brown, paquette, and johnson(?) I know they played well, but you need the #1 goal scorer out there instead of 1 of them at least, thats my opinion anyway. Oh well, Great season.
- RileyB77

Losing Bishop, what's wrong with him BTW, really was the difference in this series.
- LeftCoaster

...

having Bishop in net would've been huge for Tampa, but come on.

Hey, at least you made the playoffs
- BoringBob69

haha, yeah.