TAMPA — One got the feeling that Jon Cooper could have talked about it all day.
That would be the Tampa Bay Lightning’s first-round series victory against the Maple Leafs last May, which was clinched in Game 7 in Toronto in a one-goal win.
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Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said on Saturday morning that the team’s return to Amalie Arena, where the Leafs lost Game 6, didn’t stir up any emotions, saying “it’s just another regular-season game, the playoffs haven’t been on my mind.”
Cooper, who coached the Lightning to the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021 and got his team to the final this past year before losing to the Colorado Avalanche, had plenty to say.
“I do remember the feeling after Game 7, that relief or exuberance,” Cooper said. “There were so many emotions standing on the ice after we’d won. I do remember not feeling so good when (Brayden) Point went down (with a leg injury).
“I remember not feeling so great after the 5-0 shellacking in Game 1, I do remember feeling great about Nick Paul’s performance in Game 7 (scoring both goals in Tampa’s 2-1 victory).
“At the end of that series, I just remember it was two good hockey teams that went at it and if you played seven more games, it probably would have went seven more. It was that close. I’m just glad we were on top.”
Much is to be determined during the remainder of the 2022-23 regular season, but there is a good chance the Leafs and Lightning will meet in the first round of the 2023 playoffs.
Did Tampa’s post-season experience give it an edge against the Leafs seven months ago?
“I don’t think, in Game 7, you can say there was panic,” Cooper said. “It was a tight game. Both teams had their chances. One more went in for us than for them.
“As we all know, the Leafs are fighting some ghosts of hockey past, not being able to get out of the first round. But eventually that is going to end. I wouldn’t say lack of experience was something that hurt them, but maybe (experience) helped us.”
GOING STREAKING
Steven Stamkos related a funny story — he can laugh about it now — regarding his best point streak in the NHL, which came during the 2009-10 season.
The subject arose Saturday morning when Stamkos was asked about Mitch Marner’s point streak, which was at 18 games prior to Saturday night.
The Lightning captain also had a run of 18 games, reaching a high in Toronto on March 11, 2010, when Stamkos had a goal and an assist in a loss against the Leafs.
The next night in Washington, Stamkos was held off the scoresheet against the Capitals.
“I remember like it was yesterday, because my sticks got stolen after the game at the Toronto airport by security and then I didn’t get a point the next game, so I remember that pretty clear, pretty fondly,” Stamkos said with a chuckle. “There were a few sticks that I had left in the bag, but not the ones that I was playing with. I’m not sure that happens anymore, but it certainly had happened in the past, depending on which airports you would go to, especially the ones where they love hockey, your sticks would sometimes go missing.”
Stamkos’ 18-gamer with Tampa is a club record. Naturally, from afar, he has admired Marner’s run and the role it has played in Leafs wins.
“Great streak,” Stamkos said. “It’s so tough to be that consistent in this league. You look at what they’ve been able to do as a team during that streak. When you’re having success like that as a player and the team is playing really well, it’s a fun streak to be on.”
LOOSE LEAFS
Defenceman Rasmus Sandin on the confidence that comes with playing more minutes on the blue line because of injuries: “You drop your shoulders a bit and relax. When you do that, decisions are going to be better. That makes it a little bit more fun.” … The Leafs are scheduled to have a day off on Sunday before practising in the Dallas area on Monday. They’ll meet the Stars on Tuesday and then head home for three games against Western Conference teams — Los Angeles, Calgary and Anaheim.
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