Jon Cooper throws some shade at the Leafs ahead of Game 5
Throughout the course of their round one series, Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper has been very vocal about having a better team than the Toronto Maple Leafs. Who's going to argue? His club is coming off of back-to-back Stanley Cup victories after all.
Well, despite having what he might consider the better team, the Leafs and Bolts are deadlocked at 2 games apiece, heading into a 3-game series where the Leafs hold the home ice advantage, which begs the question; are the Leafs closing the gap on the Bolts after a string of recent departures in Tampa Bay?
On Tuesday, following the Lightning's morning skate, Jon Cooper took a bit of a shot at the Leafs, who came out sluggish and flat-footed in Game 4. There's no doubt that Tampa was ready to go right from puck drop in Game 4, while it took the Leafs awhile to get going - something Cooper wanted to rub in people's faces on Tuesday.
-Jon Cooper on what he expects from the Bolts in Game 5
The Leafs are going to have to be ready to from right from the opening faceoff if they hope to answer back after being blown out 7-3 on Sunday in Tampa. The Buds can't risk being embarrassed like that at home and heading to Tampa for Game 6, hoping to extend the series in enemy territory to force a Game 7 at home.
In my opinion, Sheldon Keefe needs to write this one down on the whiteboard in permanent marker and draw attention to it with his guys before the start of all 3 periods tonight. The Lightning didn't become back-to-back champs by being pushovers. If you want a win against the Bolts, you have to go out there and take it, which means solid two-way play and a high level of compete.
This is pretty much as close to a must-win as the Leafs have had in this series. A win in Game 5 means multiple chances to close out the series in 6 later this week. A loss means they're on the ropes yet again and will need to steal one in Tampa to reach a Game 7. The fact that Tampa hasn't lost back-to-back playoff games in 3 years also doesn't do the Leafs any favours.
| POLL | ||
MAI 10 | 568 ANSWERS Jon Cooper throws some shade at the Leafs ahead of Game 5 What is the outcome of tonight's Game 5 between the Leafs and the Lightning? | ||
| Leafs in regulation | 450 | 79.2 % |
| Tampa in regulation | 43 | 7.6 % |
| Leafs in OT | 64 | 11.3 % |
| Tampa in OT | 11 | 1.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
