Here’s a closer look at the two scenarios that could play out for the Tampa Bay Lightning depending on their opponent for Round 2 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Tampa Bay Lightning has already secured their spot in Round 2 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The only question remaining now is who the Bolts will meet in the Eastern Conference Semifinal. Thankfully, the Lightning won’t have to wait much longer before getting an answer to this burning question.
Tonight, the Boston Bruins will take on the Toronto Maple Leafs in a much-anticipated Game 7. In the beginning, it seemed as if the Bruins had the series well in hand, but the Maple Leafs clearly weren’t ready to start making off-season plans just yet. The Leafs came back, winning two in a row, to force Game 7.
The Lightning players don’t really care which team they face. The important thing at this stage in the game is coming out strong, sticking to your system, and preparing for any and all situations. This may sound like the most impossible thing in the world, but it is possible with the right amount of preparation.
There is more hinging on tonight’s game than which team the Bolts will take on in Round 2. Depending on which team advances to the next round, the start times for Game 1 of the next round will vary. Here’s a look at the way things will play out in both scenarios.
Boston Bruins Defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs
Game: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Boston Bruins
Venue: Amalie Arena
Location: Tampa, Florida
Date: Saturday, April 28,, 2018
Start Time: 3:00 p.m. EST
TV Info: NBC
Radio Info: Lightning Radio on 970WFLA or TBL Power Play on iHeartRadio
Live Stream: NBC Sports App available in the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store
If the Boston Bruins advance to the next round, things will kick off a little earlier in the day. There are advantages and disadvantages to having the early game. It definitely gives the teams a chance to recover from what we’re sure will be an intense battle.
Toronto Maple Leafs Defeat The Boston Bruins
Game: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Venue: Amalie Arena
Location: Tampa, Florida
Date: Saturday, April 28,, 2018
Start Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
TV Info: NBC Sports Network
Radio Info: Lightning Radio on 970WFLA or TBL Power Play on iHeartRadio
Live Stream: NBC Sports App available in the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store
Should the Toronto Maple Leafs complete the comeback of the century and defeat the Boston Bruins and advance to the next round to face the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Bolts will catch the evening game on Saturday. Of course, it also means the game will make the jump to the NBC Sports Network.
Despite how much Tampa fans have grown to dislike the NBC Sports broadcasting team, this seems to be the choice the Bolts Nation feels would best suit the Tampa Bay Lightning. Well…at least according to the voters in our most recent Twitter poll.
Ok, #BoltsNation...who would you rather see the #TBLightning face in Round 2? #NHL #GoBolts #StanleyCup
— Bolts By The Bay (@BoltsByTheBay) April 24, 2018
There are more than likely a plethora of reasons for this decision; however, it’s pretty easy to nail it down to two. The more obvious of these two reasons would be the simple fact the Maple Leafs seem to be the path of least resistance for the Bolts. The Bruins seemed to have the number of the Bolts during the regular season whereas the situation is flipped when it comes to the Maple Leafs.
The biggest reason for Lightning fans to favor a matchup with the Maple Leafs would be the safety of their players. The Bruins are a highly physical team. This is a known fact. The one thing which cannot be measured is whether those hard hits are going to be entirely legal. (Here’s looking at you, Brad Marchand.)
When All Is Said And Done…
When the final buzzer sounds between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs, it matters not to the Tampa Bay Lightning who walks away the victor from tonight’s game. The Lightning is ready to get down to business and kick off the next round of play.
If the Bolts stick to their system and refrain from getting pulled into any unnecessary penalties, they should have no issues in forging their path through the next round.
At the same time, there is no denying the Bolts Nation will be on the edge of their seats tonight. The series between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs has definitely heated up and it all comes to a conclusion in the center of the ice tonight at the TD Garden in Boston.
Next: CBS Sports Radio Host Attacks Mishkin, Espo, and Bolts Fans
The puck is scheduled to drop between the Bruins and Maple Leafs at 7:30 p.m. You can catch all the action on the NBC Sports Network. Which team would you like to see advance to the next round to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning? Let us know, along with your reasoning, in the comments below.