#Tampa bay lightning series#

The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.In these three years, the Lightning have played a quarter-season’s worth of more hockey than anyone else. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at for further information. (SOUNDBITE OF JAY DEE SONG, 'THINK TWICE')Ĭopyright © 2022 NPR. So if I can get a coach to explain something that we're seeing better or give fans something to look for, I think that's really cool, and I think the coaches are pretty receptive to that. We always talk about that in hockey, and I think one of hockey's biggest issues has always been accessibility. At the same time, our goal is to grow the game. KAPLAN: You know, it's challenging because I have a such a tight window, and my biggest fear is having that interview run over a goal and robbing the fan of that moment. Do you generally find them receptive to that? Do you cringe a bit when you walk up to ask questions? Or what is that like asking in the middle of a game? Because you're a sideline reporter on ESPN covering these games, sometimes in the middle of these tense games, you have to go interview these head coaches. That third Stanley Cup in a row is so historic in the Stanley Cup era that I do think that they have that savvy to get past the Rangers. And I just think that that grizzled Tampa Bay experience - they realize that their Stanley Cup window is closing. The Colorado Avalanche already punched their ticket after sweeping the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final. And that's the way that I think it's trending. KAPLAN: You know, before the season, I did make a prediction that I picked the Colorado Avalanche to win the Stanley Cup, but I did have the Tampa Bay Lightning emerging in the East. PFEIFFER: I know a lot of sports reporters have different feelings about predicting, but are you comfortable rating their chances at taking the third straight Stanley Cup in your view? And now things are even, so it really could go anyone's way. The Rangers, who are a young team, definitely had their legs.

#Tampa bay lightning series#

But right now, both teams' energy levels are at the right place because, entering the series, the Tampa Bay Lightning have nine days' rest between their last series because they swept their last opponent, and it was hard for them to get their legs at first. And so I do think that the Rangers are going to be energized by the crowd at Madison Square Garden. Home ice advantage has really mattered in these playoffs more than any other year, it seems.

KAPLAN: I think they can expect a really tightly contested battle. What do you think fans can expect to see? PFEIFFER: So Game 5 is tomorrow in New York. But really it's that mentality to back-checking and defense and those intangibles that allow them just to win these games when, again, a lot of people are counting them out. They've got the best goaltender in Andrei Vasilevskiy, one of the top defensemen in Victor Hedman. Their coach, Jon Cooper, is amongst the best in the league at X's and O's, but also, again, getting that buy-in. Their general manager, Julien BriseBois, did a very good job of finding the right character guys that can plug in. I think a lot of it begins with the construction of their team. PFEIFFER: Emily, you recently wrote that this team has, quote, 'a level of trust and confidence that they can get through any opponent.' It sounds like you think they have something special. So the fact that they've been able to do this year after year and discount so many people is honestly historic to watch. The NHL now has 32 teams, which has watered down the market.

You know, this is - they're going for their third straight Stanley Cup, which is pretty incredible in the salary cap era, which has evened the playing field. They really seem to specialize in comebacks. And, Emily, just a few days ago, the Lightning were down two games to none. She covers hockey for ESPN, and she's with us now live. PFEIFFER: The Lightning are going for their third straight Stanley Cup title, and hockey fans have seen Tampa battle back a lot in recent years. UNIDENTIFIED ANNOUNCER: He puts it right on the stick of Kucherov again, and he scores. That's after the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the New York Rangers 4 to 1 last night. The NHL Eastern Conference Finals are now tied two games each.