TB Lightning Playoff Run

Alyssa Muir, Junior Staff Writer|May 11, 2016

Credit: Alyssa Muir/ Achona Online

While Lightning games are always enjoyable, they are even more fun during the playoffs because of the intensity and energy of the game.

For the third year in a row, the Tampa Bay Lightning have made the playoffs. This year, they are looking to continue off of their great postseason run from last year where they made it all the way to the championship series before losing to the Chicago Blackhawks. Currently, the Lightning are waiting to start the third-round of playoffs. The Lightning play in downtown Tampa at Amalie Arena. The stadium is always very energetic and fun, especially during playoffs.

Junior Devin Folkman says, “Lightning games are so much fun because everyone in the crowd is very energetic and engaged. The atmosphere at the stadium is always great especially when the Lightning win a playoff game at home.”

In the first round of the playoffs, the Lightning defeated the Detroit Red Wings in the best of seven series. They won the first two games at home by scores of 3-2 and 5-2. However, they lost the first game in Detroit 2-0. Fortunately, they bounced back and won the next two games by scores of 3-2 and 1-0 to close out the intense series.

In the second round,the Lightning lost to the Islanders 5-3 in the first game at home. Then, they bounced back for the second game and won 4-1. This tied the series at 1-1 before the series shifted to Detroit. In the third game, it looked like the Lightning were going to lose, but Nikita Kucherov scored a goal with just over 30 seconds left in the game to force overtime. The lightning won in overtime thanks to a sudden-death goal by Brian Boyle. In the fourth game, the Lightning won in overtime again by a score of 2-1. Next, the Lightning closed out the series at home with a 4-0 victory.

While many people want to find ways to support the hometown team, it is often very difficult to find Lightning playoff tickets. However, going to Lightning watch parties is a great way to support the team without having to find a ticket to the game.  Watch parties are where hundreds of dedicated fans gather to watch the game on a big screen.  The watch parties vary locations but many are at Curtis Hixon Park or outside of Amalie Arena.

Sylar Martinez (11) says, “The Lightning watch parties are always so much fun because everyone is so invested in the game, and everyone goes crazy when something good happens.”

The Lightning will play next in the Eastern Conference Finals against either the Washington Capitals or the Pittsburgh Penguins.