Lightning vs. Avalanche - Game 6 - 6/26 8PM ET

[Bolthed]

[TexasBolt]

Oh for sure Colorado was better. Personally I was happy they crashed out early the previous two years because I don't know if the Bolts could have beaten them then, either.

[Pat664422]

Oh for sure Colorado was better. Personally I was happy they crashed out early the previous two years because I don't know if the Bolts could have beaten them then, either.

The best team in the league doesn't crash out early.

[TexasBolt]

The best team in the league doesn't crash out early.

My point was it's never been a very good matchup.
Vegas would have been even worse. Glad they never got there either.

[Bolthed]

Vegas beat Colorado at their own game. Montreal beat Vegas at OUR game (goaltending, heavy forechecking, sticky D). It’s too bad we spotted Colorado those first two games. We played much better after that. But I’ll say it again: our core played 60-something games in three consecutive playoff runs with two shortened offseasons. Add in our injuries and Colorado winning was nigh inevitable. You saw how easily they ran us down in the third period of Game 6. Everyone always says “Get to Game 7 and you never know,” but it’s not like our legs were going to get fresher or the Avalanche were going to go braindead and forget that their skating game would tire us out by the third period at the latest. We lost. To a fresher, healthier team.

Sadly, the length of our playoff run was capped the moment when Brayden Point’s quad tore. He might’ve made a difference. Might have. In time I think we’ll all agree it was incredible that they got to Game 6 of the Final without one of the best players in the world. Amazing.

[Bolthed]

The best team in the league doesn't crash out early.

We certainly thought we were the best team in the league heading into the 2019 playoffs. It’s valid to point out that Colorado has been the best or one of the best teams for a few years. We learned from our failures. So did they.

[TexasBolt]

But I’ll say it again: our core played 60-something games in three consecutive playoff runs with two shortened offseasons. Add in our injuries and Colorado winning was nigh inevitable. You saw how easily they ran us down in the third period of Game 6. Everyone always says “Get to Game 7 and you never know,” but it’s not like our legs were going to get fresher or the Avalanche were going to go braindead and forget that their skating game would tire us out by the third period at the latest. We lost. To a fresher, healthier team.

Sadly, the length of our playoff run was capped the moment when Brayden Point’s quad tore. He might’ve made a difference. Might have. In time I think we’ll all agree it was incredible that they got to Game 6 of the Final without one of the best players in the world. Amazing.

Yep. Pretty much the same thing as Chicago 2015. The injury list piled up and all the extra games they played wore them out. (It ended up being 26 that year, partly because they played with their food a lot in that run). Point's torn quad was like Tyler Johnson's broken wrist and Cirelli getting friendly fired by Killorn was like Kucherov busting himself up on the goal post. I wasn't upset at the end of that run and I'm not upset about this one either. You have to be good enough and you have to be lucky enough to win the Cup... this time they were only good enough.

[Iceman]

We certainly thought we were the best team in the league heading into the 2019 playoffs. It’s valid to point out that Colorado has been the best or one of the best teams for a few years. We learned from our failures. So did they.

They got the luck of the draw this year. First round against Nashville who was barely a playoff team and missing their starting goalie. Second round against St Louis who lost their starting goalie game 1 of the series. Third round against Edmonton with Draisaitl on one leg after upsetting Colorado's toughest competition (Calgary). Final against Tampa Bay without Point and half the rest of the team beat up. But you play who is in front of you and they got it done so hat's off. Let's see if they can win again next year much less make the Final for two more years. Don't count out the Lightning to be there waiting if they do make it back.

[TexasBolt]

Matchups and upsets make a big difference. Dallas and (especially) Montreal were certainly not juggernauts. I was 100% sure the Bolts were going to beat those two.

[dmaxf9]

Lightning played through the gauntlet while Colorado played through the pastries. The Eastern conference so much better than the Western conference and really no contest. Hopefully BriseBois can clear some cap space. Obviously everyone would like Palat and Paul to stay but it may not be possible. Unfortunately with no goals in 23 SC playoff games and lack of foot speed Killorn should go. No t sure than keep Rutta. Not sure about Cal Foote but absolutely would not trade Sergachev who is only 6 months older tha Foote.One or two from Syracuse need to be meshed into the lineup. Do your magic JBB!

[Puckhead]

After we saw the giddy-up in Point’s strides in that short clip, we all thought he was 100% and ready to go. Goes to show you how muscle tears are so difficulty to recover from.

[Bolthed]

He had straight line speed but couldn’t cut laterally. Hardly noticed him in Games 1 & 2. He’ll be back with a vengeance I suspect.

[dmaxf9]

Lightning speciality teams just not good enough particularly the PP which was under 20%. Two best PPs were Colorado and NY Rangers. Lightning very stagnant and low man basically ignored while Avalanche and Rangers had great movement. Stamkos and Kucherov have shown that can score from the high slot.

[Bolthed]

A healthy Point fixes a lot of what looked so broken. Might consider someone other than Killorn for that low man spot. Maybe Nic Paul?