“Bell Could Well Toll, IN FAVOR of the Again Middle of the Pack Lightning

Last night, in the NHL “quarters,” while the Las Vegas Golden Knights rode a Mark Stone goal in the first minute of overtime, to a third straight win (they have a (3-2) series lead) over the President’s Trophy winning Colorado Avalanche, Brayden Point had the opening/game winning goal as defending champion Tampa Bay (Lightning) (Mr. Brady recorded a go Lightning spot, I was part of one, doubt it was shown) advanced to a 5th semi in 9 years, (5 of the last 7, as Cooper/T.B. teams have lost twice in the first round, twice not qualified in the “non” semis seasons) under coach, John Cooper with a (2-0) win, that ousted the higher seeded, Carolina Hurricanes in 5 games.

Andrei Vasilevskiy, a truly fine and under rated goaltender notched his 3rd career ‘offs shutout (they have occurred in the last 3 series clinchers, starting with the title clincher vs the Dallas Stars) for the Lightning, a team that dominated the last full NHL season (2018-2019), only to be swept out in the first round by the Columbus Blue Jackets, at the time coached by the (at the time) lone Lightning Cup winning coach, John Tortorella.

Of course, the Lightning buoyed by Brayden Point’s FIFTH overtime goal which “opened” Columbus in last year’s opening round, T.B. (the area has a “T.B.” at quarterback in 7 time Supe winner, the aforementioned “cheerer,” Tom Brady (he did the same for other New England teams and they also won many titles when he was in the area. The baseball Rays came close and are up there again, but still no title) won it all and now with Point scoring the aforementioned opening/gamer, have made the semis.

The Lightning will next face the winner of the Islanders/Bruins “qtr,” which the Isles can wrap tonight, with a game 6 win, in what still might be the last Nassau Coliseum tilt. A seventh game, if necessary, would be Thursday in Boston. En route to their first and last of their 4 crowns, the Islanders ousted the Bruins doing so in game 5/”qtrs” at Boston in ’80 and in a home 6th in the ’83 semis.

Meanwhile the Golden Knights can advance to their third semi in their 4 season history, with a game 6 win at home, before what ought to be a raucous crowd, tomorrow night in “Sin City.” A 7th, if necessary would be in Colorado Saturday night. The ‘Lanche, who dissipated a (2-0) last night and led (2-0) with home wins in the first two tilts of this “qtr,” got the home advantage by virtue of a tiebreaker with L.V. as the teams had the same number of “reg” points.

The superb netminder, Andrei Vasilevskiy, pictured above.