Sam Hitchcock: Lightning's Game 4 Win Raises More Questions Than Answers

When the lightning play the leafs in the second round, it'll be a high-scoring series with some great goals, I'll give you that

Good road win period. It’s the playoffs and matchups matter and they did. So the Devils had 7 PP and the Bolts 5. Devils have scores one PP goal not 5-3 in 17 attempts. . Overall 3-19 a whopping 15%. Bolts 5-14 a 35% clip. We will worry about our next opponent when we play them not now this series is not over so the backhanded attempt is noted but not applicable, every series takes on a life of its own play them to see the results but extrapolating regular season to post season is ridiculous. Thanks for your two cents but we get that crap from Tom Jones all the time and he’s usually wrong on just about everything. Taking any team for granted is a big mistake including the Leafs

Good road win period. It’s the playoffs and matchups matter and they did. So the Devils had 7 PP and the Bolts 5. Devils have scores one PP goal not 5-3 in 17 attempts. . Overall 3-19 a whopping 15%. Bolts 5-14 a 35% clip. We will worry about our next opponent when we play them not now this series is not over so the backhanded attempt is noted but not applicable, every series takes on a life of its own play them to see the results but extrapolating regular season to post season is ridiculous. Thanks for your two cents but we get that crap from Tom Jones all the time and he’s usually wrong on just about everything. Taking any team for granted is a big mistake including the Leafs
- tpd11

What language is this

What language is this
- Thunder_daddy

Canadien English

Or "Canadien" Canadian?

You mentioned quite a bit that team defense was an issue. I was there last night and watching live it looked like the Devs had absolutely nowhere to go in the 3rd. The pressure they put on in waves in game 2 and 3 seemed to just disappear. Little high danger or even secondary chances. Even finished checks didn't take your D out of the play. Very frustrating to watch and I'm sure to play against. If Tampa D keeps that up and Vasi keeps shutting it down, they will be solid...

Kucherov should have saved that Vatanen hit for Marchand in the next round - if the two teams meet.

If Marchand hurts a Lightning player with a dirty hit, slewfoot, or stickwork, I am going to go out and punch the first Boston fan I see. Not kidding. Zero kidding here. Marchand plays dirty, a Boston fan will lose teeth.

Kucherov should have saved that Vatanen hit for Marchand in the next round - if the two teams meet.

If Marchand hurts a Lightning player with a dirty hit, slewfoot, or stickwork, I am going to go out and punch the first Boston fan I see. Not kidding. Zero kidding here. Marchand plays dirty, a Boston fan will lose teeth.
- GalacticStone

Ok so quick scenario. Sub marchand for kuch and sub Sami for kuch, or Stamkos or Point. Do you think the hit is bad then just based on his history.? And for the record, with my Devil's eyes I don't like it, but as a hockey fan with a brain, I don't think it was illegal, blindside yes, but not illegal

Ok so quick scenario. Sub marchand for kuch and sub Sami for kuch, or Stamkos or Point. Do you think the hit is bad then just based on his history.? And for the record, with my Devil's eyes I don't like it, but as a hockey fan with a brain, I don't think it was illegal, blindside yes, but not illegal
- bigjersey3

I think this was a huge hit that was legal but with a bad outcome. I think part of the issue was he ended up kinda crouching as he went to turn which made the hit start higher then intended which allowed for the hit to start at the chest/shoulders and finish was some head impact. Bare in mind that every team we play tries to bully kucherov and hit him (some dirty some not) to get him off his game so its not uncommon for the scenario you are describing to occur. When you are playing full throttle like this series has been sometimes big collisions can have bad outcomes.

I think this was a huge hit that was legal but with a bad outcome. I think part of the issue was he ended up kinda crouching as he went to turn which made the hit start higher then intended which allowed for the hit to start at the chest/shoulders and finish was some head impact. Bare in mind that every team we play tries to bully kucherov and hit him (some dirty some not) to get him off his game so its not uncommon for the scenario you are describing to occur. When you are playing full throttle like this series has been sometimes big collisions can have bad outcomes.
- headyhedman77

I get it. Watching it live from the other end of the rink, it looked bad. Watching a replay I saw exactly what you are talking about. It does suck for the Devs and Sami especially. And I don't think Kuch was trying to hurt or hit high. I can imagine the intensity was high for both teams after the end of game 3. Tampa looked determined to throw the body

I get it. Watching it live from the other end of the rink, it looked bad. Watching a replay I saw exactly what you are talking about. It does suck for the Devs and Sami especially. And I don't think Kuch was trying to hurt or hit high. I can imagine the intensity was high for both teams after the end of game 3. Tampa looked determined to throw the body
- bigjersey3

The first period of that game was possibly the best hitting/highest intensity of the entire playoff IMO. We are not known as a team that throws the body, so adding that element in the playoffs makes it difficult for teams to handle because it wasnt anticipated for a team that wasnt known for it. Also look at our past deep playoff runs, we ended up limping to the end and eventually lost. one would have to think they learned the lesson that its better to be doing the hitting rather then be the one getting hit...

The first period of that game was possibly the best hitting/highest intensity of the entire playoff IMO. We are not known as a team that throws the body, so adding that element in the playoffs makes it difficult for teams to handle because it wasnt anticipated for a team that wasnt known for it. Also look at our past deep playoff runs, we ended up limping to the end and eventually lost. one would have to think they learned the lesson that its better to be doing the hitting rather then be the one getting hit...
- headyhedman77

Well they def have the big bodies to be doing that. And the devs looked like they did not know how to get around it. Doesn't help they are much smaller overall. Add in your skilled players throwing big hits and teams won't know what to do. Crazy thing is, from what I've seen,Hedman hasnt really gotten involved in the big time hits yet. Rubbing guys out and playing big, but nothing heavy like that hit

Well they def have the big bodies to be doing that. And the devs looked like they did not know how to get around it. Doesn't help they are much smaller overall. Add in your skilled players throwing big hits and teams won't know what to do. Crazy thing is, from what I've seen,Hedman hasnt really gotten involved in the big time hits yet. Rubbing guys out and playing big, but nothing heavy like that hit
- bigjersey3

Hes not really a big hitter believe it or not lol

Kucherov should have saved that Vatanen hit for Marchand in the next round - if the two teams meet.

If Marchand hurts a Lightning player with a dirty hit, slewfoot, or stickwork, I am going to go out and punch the first Boston fan I see. Not kidding. Zero kidding here. Marchand plays dirty, a Boston fan will lose teeth.
- GalacticStone

Kucherov should have saved that Vatanen hit for Marchand in the next round - if the two teams meet.

If Marchand hurts a Lightning player with a dirty hit, slewfoot, or stickwork, I am going to go out and punch the first Boston fan I see. Not kidding. Zero kidding here. Marchand plays dirty, a Boston fan will lose teeth.
- GalacticStone

Lol. Wow.
Where can we meet?

Lol. Wow.
Where can we meet?
- shoreorrpark

Worry about getting past the Leafs first then you can go Whitey Bulgar all you want.

Worry about getting past the Leafs first then you can go Whitey Bulgar all you want.
- tpd11

We'll get there.
I hope you guys are waiting for us.

>up 3-1
>killed off a ton of penalties
>... worry?


Yeah, no. It was a fine road win with some feistiness. I don't want to see us take 27 penalties a game like last night often, but eh... seemed to get in the NJ players head a bit... and we killed them off, except for the 5-3.

I get it. Watching it live from the other end of the rink, it looked bad. Watching a replay I saw exactly what you are talking about. It does suck for the Devs and Sami especially. And I don't think Kuch was trying to hurt or hit high. I can imagine the intensity was high for both teams after the end of game 3. Tampa looked determined to throw the body
- bigjersey3

Refreshing with an objective devil fan

Kucherov should have saved that Vatanen hit for Marchand in the next round - if the two teams meet.

If Marchand hurts a Lightning player with a dirty hit, slewfoot, or stickwork, I am going to go out and punch the first Boston fan I see. Not kidding. Zero kidding here. Marchand plays dirty, a Boston fan will lose teeth.
- GalacticStone

Calm down there buddy

Ok so quick scenario. Sub marchand for kuch and sub Sami for kuch, or Stamkos or Point. Do you think the hit is bad then just based on his history.? And for the record, with my Devil's eyes I don't like it, but as a hockey fan with a brain, I don't think it was illegal, blindside yes, but not illegal
- bigjersey3

I posted in the New Jersey thread about this. But, a shorter version - if Kuch and Hedman turn into dirty players, I will drop my love for them fast. I do not root for dirty players, even if they play on my favorite team - unlike Boston fans who are permanently attached to Marchand's bunghole regardless of how many players he hurts with his cheap shots.

Worry about getting past the Leafs first then you can go Whitey Bulgar all you want.
- tpd11

I am not gonna punch anybody......maybe. LOL.

Many Boston fans just really irritate me. How can they defend that rat? Have they no ability to step outside their fandom and picture what it would be like if Marchand played on another team and pulled that same crap on Bergeron or Chara? If Marchand slewfooted Chara or speared Bergeron and seriously injured him, would they be OK with that?

The Boston management, coaches, players, and fans should rebuke that guy and demand that he change his ways or staple his ass to the bench. But, he scores goals, so I guess they are OK with him being the dirtiest player in the modern age.

Hes not really a big hitter believe it or not lol
- headyhedman77

Oh no, I'm getting flashbacks of Kucherovski's arguement that Hedman needs to be a physical player.

Hedman is more of a euro stick check guy, playing the body isn't a priority in his game.