It’s certainly not a shootout loss at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens that will discourage the Tampa Bay Lightning in their quest for a third consecutive Stanley Cup.
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“We are part of the teams that have what it takes to win the Stanley Cup, launched general manager Julien BriseBois, whose remarks were taken up by the site of the National Hockey League (NHL).
“But I know how difficult it will be and I remember all the adversity we have overcome in the past two years.”
Installed third in the Atlantic Division, the “Bolts” played big at the trade deadline by getting their hands on forwards Nick Paul, Riley Nash and Brandon Hagel. BriseBois had to pay two first-round picks to acquire the latter.
“When you consider that you are a real contender for great honors, you look for ways to improve your chances of success, continued the Quebecer.
“The players we have acquired provide flexibility and versatility to our coaching staff. They can play in all kinds of situations.
Depth and experience
Paul and Hagel were paired with Ross Colton to form the Lightning’s new third line, relegating the unit of Corey Perry, Pierre-Édouard Bellemare and Patrick Maroon to fourth.
The strategy seems to be paying off, as the “Bolts” have emerged victorious in four of their last five duels. Paul had five points in seven games with his new roster, while Hagel had two hits with the Lightning.
The Florida team will try this spring to become the first organization to win three consecutive titles since the New York Islanders in the early 1980s. The key to success in the playoffs, according to BriseBois? Experience… and a lot of resilience.
“You don’t win 16 games in a row,” he explained. That’s not how you win the Stanley Cup. You will win some games, you will lose others. Being able to put things into perspective allows you to excel and not let circumstances dictate how you play.”