The Tampa Bay Lightning's season is officially over. The Bolts fell to the Florida Panthers in Game 5 by a 6-3 final score, and now have a busy off-season ahead as they look to turn things back around.
The Panthers simply had the Lightning's number yet again this post-season, knocking them out in just five games. The Lightning were knocked out in five games by the Cats in last year's playoffs as well.
Following the game, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper reflected on the team's early post-season exit and had some kind words to say about the Panthers.
"They have an exceptional team," Cooper said. "Not just an average team, an exceptional team. There's only a few teams in the last little while that really know how to [win in the playoffs consistently]. We were one of them, and now they're one of them. It's unfortunate we've had to run into them. Whether this series they swept up, or it was 4-1 or 4-2... to me, that's kind of irrelevant. They beat us."
Cooper is certainly correct in saying that the Panthers are a top team. They are the reigning Stanley Cup champions and have made it to the Stanley Cup championship in back-to-back years.
With this series loss, the Lightning have now been eliminated in the first round for the third year in a row. It has been a tough few post-season years for the Bolts, and they will now look to change that next year after what should be a busy off-season for them.
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