The Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs have built up quite the rivalry over the past few years, and after a big time loss in the playoffs last year, it appears the Lightning aren't about to let it go.
Another comment from Tampa Bay
Since the playoff loss, several Lightning players have come out and complained about their loss to the Maple Leafs in six games, and now, Head Coach Jon Cooper has joined that group.
You can honestly argue the wrong team won both of those series. They outplayed us (in 2022) and we won. We outplayed them last year and they won.
This is yet another example of Cooper's complaining as a coach, and while many see it as mind games to play with the media, at some point, he's got to move past it and focus on the upcoming season.
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An intense rivalry
Given both teams success in the regular season and the terrible formatting of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it's more likely than not that these two teams will meet when it matters most once again, and it should be another thrilling series.
Both teams are set up to win the Cup in 2023-24, and while Cooper is right that betting against Tampa Bay isn't the smart play, there's no doubting that the Leafs could now be considered the favourite in this rivalry after their recent moves.
AS Read on Hockey Patrol - John Cooper Back To His Antics With Latest Comments On Maple Leafs & Lightning Series
| POLL | ||
22 SEPTEMBRE | 128 ANSWERS Tampa Bay Lightning Coach makes interesting statement about playoff loss to Toronto Who goes further in 2023-24? | ||
| Toronto | 110 | 85.9 % |
| Tampa Bay | 18 | 14.1 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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