from Dan Rosen of the NHL's website,
They went to the Stanley Cup Final three straight seasons, winning the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021.
When the Lightning start training camp next month, they should be motivated and probably still angry about losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round last season. But they'll also be a veteran team that is rested, healed and healthy.
It might be what they need be a Stanley Cup contender this season.
"There was no doubt that the guys were absolutely crushed and bummed we lost, but two days later it was like, 'Oh my God, I need some rest,'" Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "You felt it with the players. Hopefully that will be the positive change for us, that our guys will come in rested, and first and foremost, our goalie."
from Dave McCarthy at NHL.com,
John Tavares said the Toronto Maple Leafs know a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs may not be as easy to come by in the Atlantic Division this season as it has been in the past.
"Yeah, 100 percent (the competition will be more difficult)," the Maple Leafs captain said Wednesday at Hockey Night In Brampton, a charity game which raised $1 million towards a new hospital for the William Osler Health System. "The steps that Detroit, Buffalo and Ottawa, the steps they are taking, you see the talent they are developing and the season some of their guys have had (last year) and the way their teams are growing and the challenges they present, they obviously feel they are ready to start contending and be playoff teams. There is no doubt it's only going to continue to get harder and harder, so we are aware of that challenge and know what's ahead."
The Maple Leafs finished last season with 111 points, second in the Atlantic Division behind the Boston Bruins (135 points). Toronto was 13 points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning, 19 points ahead of the Florida Panthers, and 20 points ahead of the Buffalo Sabres. The Panthers were the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
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