Throughout the entire NHL season, the Tampa Bay Lightning were dominating almost unlike anyone else in NHL history. They were like an offensive machine, averaging more goals than any teams has in over two decades, shutting down power plays, and generally dominating in historic fashion. They tied the NHL record for most wins in a regular season with 62, as they became only the second team in NHL history to win that many games in an 82-game regular season. They seemed to rank among the all-time teams in terms of greatness, and the conventional wisdom was that they were the clear favorites to win the Stanley Cup.
Then came the playoffs, and one of the winningest teams in NHL history somehow failed to manage even one win in their first, and now only, playoff series. Yes, the Tampa Bay Lightning were swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets, a franchise that had never won a playoff series before.
Here's the thing: I suspected that they were overly inflated because of all of that regular season success. The shock to me was not that they lost, but that it happened in the first round, and that they were swept in the process. That, to me, was where this gets set apart.
Seeing historically dominant teams fall short is not actually all that uncommon. When a team enjoys an unprecedented level of success, the pressure clearly rises. Numerous NCAA Men's basketball teams went throughout the regular season with an undefeated record, only to lose in March madness somewhere along the line. In 2001, the Seattle Mariners enjoyed a regular season record of 116-46, the best ever in MLB history, but they lost to the Yankees in the playoffs. The 2015-16 Golden State Warriors enjoyed a historic 73-9 season which eclipsed the previous record of 72-10 by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls as the most dominant regular season ever, but the Warriors somehow squandered a 3-1 series lead in the NBA Finals to lose the series, and what was a historic opportunity. And everyone remembers the 2007 New England Patriots, who dominated the regular season in unprecedented fashion, and became only the second team in history to reach the Super Bowl still unbeaten. Yet, the only thing anyone seems to remember about them was that they lost that game in the final minute.
Those were some historical level failures. Yet, the Tampa Bay Lightning this year are probably have it worse, because at least those teams won in the playoffs, and went fairly far. The Lightning lost in the very first round, and got swept in the process. The Blue Jackets scored 11 more goals in this series, averaging just under a 3-goal margin for each game. It was like a role reversal for the Lightning once the playoffs rolled around, and it will be hard to live this kind of failure down.
If there is one sports franchise that can perhaps understand that today, it would be the Golden State Warriors. of course, they have won championships, which is what they are most famous for right now. They are a dynasty, after all. Yet, they enjoyed that one season when they went 73-9, but fell short of a championship in that, their most successful season otherwise. And a few days ago, they enjoyed a 31-point lead against the Los Angeles Clippers, and were well on their way to a 2-0 series lead against them. Yet, they suffered a collapse unlike anything that has been seen in an NBA playoff game, and lost.
Another collapse. The Warriors know about it, despite their success.
Yet, at least they have enjoyed success at the highest levels before. Also, they are still alive. It might be an embarrassing distinction. But they will feel a lot better about it should they win this series, and they might even forget about it if they manage to hoist another championship trophy at season's end.
That is something that the Tampa Bay Lightning will not come close to this season. Because while Golden State's collapse meant one embarrassing setback, the collapse on the part of the Lightning meant that this, their most successful season ever, and one of the most successful regular seasons in history, will likely be remembered for the stark contrast with their complete lack of success in the postseason.
How embarrassing.
If there is one sports franchise that can perhaps understand that today, it would be the Golden State Warriors. of course, they have won championships, which is what they are most famous for right now. They are a dynasty, after all. Yet, they enjoyed that one season when they went 73-9, but fell short of a championship in that, their most successful season otherwise. And a few days ago, they enjoyed a 31-point lead against the Los Angeles Clippers, and were well on their way to a 2-0 series lead against them. Yet, they suffered a collapse unlike anything that has been seen in an NBA playoff game, and lost.
Another collapse. The Warriors know about it, despite their success.
Yet, at least they have enjoyed success at the highest levels before. Also, they are still alive. It might be an embarrassing distinction. But they will feel a lot better about it should they win this series, and they might even forget about it if they manage to hoist another championship trophy at season's end.
That is something that the Tampa Bay Lightning will not come close to this season. Because while Golden State's collapse meant one embarrassing setback, the collapse on the part of the Lightning meant that this, their most successful season ever, and one of the most successful regular seasons in history, will likely be remembered for the stark contrast with their complete lack of success in the postseason.
How embarrassing.
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