![]() ![]() No player has been as dominant in the playoffs over the past three years as Vasilevskiy, who was 48-23 with seven shutouts, a. Be at our best when we meet this challenge." "All we can do is prepare for what's in front of us, and the opportunity we have at hand. "I think we're aware of it, obviously, no doubt," Tavares said of Toronto's postseason woes. Toronto won two of three meetings between the teams during the regular season. They've dropped their opening series each of the past six years. The Maple Leafs haven't won a playoff series since 2004, when they reached the Eastern Conference semifinals. ![]() The Maple Leafs, however, definitely could take a significant step forward by defeating the Lightning. That may be hyperbole, especially considering the Boston Bruins set league records for victories and points this season. "I think we're an elite team, probably the best team in the league." "End of the day, there are a lot of good teams. They held a 3-2 series lead against the Lightning last year, but couldn't close the deal. With forwards Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares and Ryan O'Reilly, along with confident goalie Ilya Samsonov, the Maple Leafs have a lot of outstanding pieces in place, too. "When those two things mirror each other, it's usually pretty good for your team." "In every locker room it goes on, but you've just got to hope it's coinciding with you playing well," Cooper said. Lightning coach Jon Cooper noted it's not as simple as flipping a switch because "that switch gets flipped for all 16 teams in the playoffs." The question is whether the team can shrug off an inconsistent regular season and make another deep playoff run. The Lightning still have plenty of star power with a loaded roster featuring big-time scorers Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos and Brayden Point, top defenseman Victor Hedman and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. Tampa Bay won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 20, then came within two victories of pulling off the NHL's first three-peat since the early 1980s in losing last year's Cup Final to the Colorado Avalanche in six games. The Maple Leafs are hoping to finally get over the hump and advance beyond the opening round for the first time since 2004. The Atlantic Division rivals begin a best-of-seven series Tuesday night in Toronto, with the Lightning launching a bid to reach the Stanley Cup Final for a fourth straight year. Ultimately, though, the Eastern Conference contenders know they'll be judged this season by what happens next - not what they have or haven't accomplished in the past. The 2003-04 Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup.The Tampa Bay Lightning have enjoyed more success than any other team over the past three NHL postseasons, while the Toronto Maple Leafs have dropped eight consecutive playoff series and exited in the first round each of the past six years. John Grahame recorded a 2.06 goals against average, pacing regularly-used goaltenders. Nikolai Khabibulin earned 28 wins in front of the net for the squad, while John Grahame added 15 or more wins, too. Louis netted 38 goals for Tampa, and Vincent Lecavalier tallied 30 or more as well. The Bay Lightning scored 245 goals and allowed 192. The team compiled a postseason mark of 16-7. The Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League ended the 2003-04 season with a record of 46 wins and 22 losses (and 6 overtime losses) and 8 ties for 106 points, finishing first in the NHL's Southeast Division. Stanley Cup Finals - Defeated Calgary Flames 4-3Ĭoach: John Tortorella (46-22-8, 6 OTL) Location: Tampa, Florida 2003-04 Tampa Bay Lightning Statistics 2003-04 Tampa Bay Lightning Results Postseason: 16-7 Won Stanley Cup Conference Quarter-Finals - Defeated New York Islanders 4-1Ĭonference Semi-Finals - Defeated Montreal Canadiens 4-0Ĭonference Finals - Defeated Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 Finishing 1st in the NHL's Southeast Division
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