from Martin Fennelly of the Tampa Tribune,

Having reduced pivotal Game 5 to slapstick (“It’s the ‘Benny and Heddy Show’!”) the madcap Lightning have safely returned to their comfort zone: The Land of No Tomorrow.

They’re where they love to be, need to be, apparently, everyone doubting them, wondering how they ever got this far. It’s their sweet spot.

Let’s not get sucked in again.

Don’t count them out.

They’re in Chicago for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. The Blackhawks are a win from the Cup. They haven’t lifted Stanley on home ice since 1938. Their city is bracing for a party, a riot, something.

Don’t count out the Lightning. They’ve earned the firm right to not be buried before their time.

Remember when we waved goodbye to this season when they headed to Detroit for Game 6 of that opening series. Seems like two years ago. They were good and done after blowing Game 5 at home.

Only the Lightning weren’t done.

Remember when they lost Game 6 in the Eastern Conference finals, again at home? They had to go to Madison Square Garden for Game 7, where the Rangers always win Game 7s.

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