Sam Hitchcock: Lightning's Scoring Disappears as Cup Hopes Fizzle

Stamkos is a ghost come elimination games. 0 points in 6 career game 7s. 3 points in 10 career elimination games (0 in last 9).

Disgusting lack of effort in the last two games.

Good job by the Caps for shutting down the Bolts. The Bolts certainly made it look easy.

No desperation. No energy. It's like somebody slipped roofies into their water bottles.

Very disappointing that nobody stepped up.

I blame Cooper for some of it - weighing down Hedman with that (frank)ing ball and chain Girardi.

Well, see you fine folks next season. I have zero interest in the finals and will not be watching. Those are two teams I could not care less about. A year ago, I would have been rooting for Ovi. But I lost my Ovi love when he planted his head up Vlad Putin's arse.

Disgusting lack of effort in the last two games.

Good job by the Caps for shutting down the Bolts. The Bolts certainly made it look easy.

No desperation. No energy. It's like somebody slipped roofies into their water bottles.

Very disappointing that nobody stepped up.

I blame Cooper for some of it - weighing down Hedman with that (frank)ing ball and chain Girardi.

Well, see you fine folks next season. I have zero interest in the finals and will not be watching. Those are two teams I could not care less about. A year ago, I would have been rooting for Ovi. But I lost my Ovi love when he planted his head up Vlad Putin's arse.
- GalacticStone

I agree 100% with this.

Stamkos is a ghost come elimination games. 0 points in 6 career game 7s. 3 points in 10 career elimination games (0 in last 9).


- Feds91Stammer

kind of harsh, stamkos has been the face of this franchise for years now. he is an exceptional hockey player, and i expect him to be even better next season. he was coming off a bad bad injury this year, a lot of hockey was probably very hard on it, considering he took the last 3 games of the reg season off when 1st place in the division / conference was on the line it speaks to how badly his knee was nagging him. I do not blame him at all. At least he looked engaged and like he cared the whole playoffs, I can't say the same about Kucherov. He looked like a guy who just didn't give a poop, almost as if he wanted his idol Ovechkin to win a cup instead of him. Kucherov can take over any game at any moment, and he looked disinterested and lazy. Unacceptable for a 100+ point player and 40 goal scorer.

as much as i don't want anyone to be injured, i am kind of hoping they reveal kucherov was hurt, because if not, someone really needs to have a deep conversation with him

kind of harsh, stamkos has been the face of this franchise for years now. he is an exceptional hockey player, and i expect him to be even better next season. he was coming off a bad bad injury this year, a lot of hockey was probably very hard on it, considering he took the last 3 games of the reg season off when 1st place in the division / conference was on the line it speaks to how badly his knee was nagging him. I do not blame him at all. At least he looked engaged and like he cared the whole playoffs, I can't say the same about Kucherov. He looked like a guy who just didn't give a poop, almost as if he wanted his idol Ovechkin to win a cup instead of him. Kucherov can take over any game at any moment, and he looked disinterested and lazy. Unacceptable for a 100+ point player and 40 goal scorer.

as much as i don't want anyone to be injured, i am kind of hoping they reveal kucherov was hurt, because if not, someone really needs to have a deep conversation with him
- RileyB77

Harsh? It is straight up facts.

If only the Lightning forced the Caps to dump and chase.

honestly tyler johnson needs to be traded for whatever we can get for him. Brayden Point has made him expendable. We need a young scoring winger from syracuse (pick your top choice theres plenty) to replace him. Killorn needs to go. Paquette needs to go. Girardi can stay but cannot play top 2 pair. Good lord. Bring Cal foote in I am positive he can play in the NHL next season and be ready come playoff time. We traded to make sure vegas does not take dotchin or koekkoek but for what? we don't even use them. Koekkoek will never get a shot with this team and as poopty as it is , it is the truth.

Harsh? It is straight up facts.
- Feds91Stammer

maybe for previous years, I am referring to the only one I care about, the one that just ended last night

honestly tyler johnson needs to be traded for whatever we can get for him. Brayden Point has made him expendable. We need a young scoring winger from syracuse (pick your top choice theres plenty) to replace him. Killorn needs to go. Paquette needs to go. Girardi can stay but cannot play top 2 pair. Good lord. Bring Cal foote in I am positive he can play in the NHL next season and be ready come playoff time. We traded to make sure vegas does not take dotchin or koekkoek but for what? we don't even use them. Koekkoek will never get a shot with this team and as poopty as it is , it is the truth.
- RileyB77

You have no idea what you are talking about. You traded with VGK so they would take Garrison and his cap hit...

You have no idea what you are talking about. You traded with VGK so they would take Garrison and his cap hit...
- Feds91Stammer

probably not, i am a hockey buzz user not a GM. telling me i dont know what im talking about does not hurt my feelings. Does it make you feel strong to belittle others online?

I am questioning more so why we do not even play them or give koekkoek a fair shot when we traded to keep them. this was before the mcdonagh trade as well.

and why don't you tell me what you think the Lightning should do, then? This is a discussion board so let's hear it. it's what we're here for

You have no idea what you are talking about. You traded with VGK so they would take Garrison and his cap hit...
- Feds91Stammer

Was that disclosed or a guess? I'm not arguing I don't know the answer. I would think that would be odd since he had one year left at like $4m, I would have thought it would have been more to protect other unprotected players too.

That was AWFUL to watch. Thank god we got rid of Miller & Girardi they (frank)ing SUCK

while they Bolts did look to be playing in 2nd gear or the last two (2) games; some of that is owed to the Caps "heavies" in Ovi, Wilson, Oshie, Orpik and others. Those guys went to work and trucked the Bolts forwards and D hard at nearly every turn...after 5 games, I believe some of the Bolts were feeling their oats after taking boarding-type, punishing hits for 60 minutes a game!

Bolts need to let some of the vets move on, not sure of their contractual status, haven't looked...but letting Giradi, Kunitz, Conacher go on to the pasture if they can would be a wise move.

Rather than bringing in speedy water spiders which they have in spades...they could use a couple of big bodies for some heavy play of their own...both on the backend and up front. Can't have Calahan being virtually the only guy willing to bring it every game.

And Kuch was a pretty big disappointment...he didn't show up in the last two games and was trying to make the pretty play when obviously Holtby was struggling bit early on with rebound control.

while they Bolts did look to be playing in 2nd gear or the last two (2) games; some of that is owed to the Caps "heavies" in Ovi, Wilson, Oshie, Orpik and others. Those guys went to work and trucked the Bolts forwards and D hard at nearly every turn...after 5 games, I believe some of the Bolts were feeling their oats after taking boarding-type, punishing hits for 60 minutes a game!

Bolts need to let some of the vets move on, not sure of their contractual status, haven't looked...but letting Giradi, Kunitz, Conacher go on to the pasture if they can would be a wise move.

Rather than bringing in speedy water spiders which they have in spades...they could use a couple of big bodies for some heavy play of their own...both on the backend and up front. Can't have Calahan being virtually the only guy willing to bring it every game.

And Kuch was a pretty big disappointment...he didn't show up in the last two games and was trying to make the pretty play when obviously Holtby was struggling bit early on with rebound control.
- IonSabres

First, all I can say is that I am very disappointed in how the Lightning played for most of the Washington series. The Caps have exposed the Lightnings flaws and hopefully they will be fixed before next season. Some things that come to mind are 1) how passive the team plays when on the PK, they just sit back and wait instead of putting pressure on the opposing team, 2) the team needs to stop looking for the perfect shot and just put the puck on net. They overpass all the time and end up passing up good scoring chances or turning the puck over, 3) they need a couple more players that have a combination of size and skill. Overall most of the players are on the small side and beside Cedric Paquette and maybe Ryan Callahan, they don't really have any players that love to hit.

Was that disclosed or a guess? I'm not arguing I don't know the answer. I would think that would be odd since he had one year left at like $4m, I would have thought it would have been more to protect other unprotected players too.
- Kucherovski

I can assure you they didn't trade Gusevs rights to protect fringe nhlers

Stamkos is a ghost come elimination games. 0 points in 6 career game 7s. 3 points in 10 career elimination games (0 in last 9).


- Feds91Stammer

I agree. I was enjoying the Jets postseason, and gotta say, Stammers and Liane are one in the same. Turnover machines that don't even belong on the ice until the PP arrives. As an armchair GM, I could not justify paying anyone over 7M, if you can't trust them in all situations. I wouldn't be surprised if Stammers was injured (hoping for the bolts sake that's the case), but he has never impressed me other then when he is parked at the top of the circle.

Do you guys want Tampa to sign Miller. Where you happy w/ his play?

You have no idea what you are talking about. You traded with VGK so they would take Garrison and his cap hit...
- Feds91Stammer

"You"


Oh right, you're off the bandwagon.

That was AWFUL to watch. Thank god we got rid of Miller & Girardi they (frank)ing SUCK
- disorca

Your Rangers also sucked this year, then traded Nash/Mcd/Miller away. Probably your best 3 players from the season. And Kovy is gonna come rescue you boys?????

"You"


Oh right, you're off the bandwagon.
- OzBolts

Yes the red wings lifelong fan is off the lightning bandwagon lmao

I can assure you they didn't trade Gusevs rights to protect fringe nhlers
- Feds91Stammer

Why, Gusev is signed in the KHL for a while so he will be a UFA when (IF) he comes. I'm sure Yzerman was in touch with Gusevs people and was aware of his future when he made the deal.

Steven Chokos and Nikita Vanishov...

I agree. I was enjoying the Jets postseason, and gotta say, Stammers and Liane are one in the same. Turnover machines that don't even belong on the ice until the PP arrives. As an armchair GM, I could not justify paying anyone over 7M, if you can't trust them in all situations. I wouldn't be surprised if Stammers was injured (hoping for the bolts sake that's the case), but he has never impressed me other then when he is parked at the top of the circle.
- bikeguy99

Laine led the Jets in 5v5 goals in the regular season and was a +18 goal differential at 5v5, get the (frank) outta here.