April 20, 2019. Madison, Mississippi. Playoffs.

There were so many hockey games on the TV that even I stopped watching. Every night there were four games so I started watching the games in ten minutes bits. But I had fun. And it is not over. More is coming. Everyone was counting on Tampa Bay to win the Stanley Cup and for good reasons. They were 23 points higher than the closest team. They only lost 17 games during the season. One of the commentators prior to the playoffs noted that the only thing the Tampa Bay Lightning did not have this season was adversity. They were so much better than every other team that they won most games. But the coach of their first opponent in the playoffs, The Columbus Blue Jackets must have watched all 17 of those games. The Lightning for 6 days could not win a game and they were swept Their offense was shut down. They were stunned. For the first period of the first game when they scored 3 goals they looked invincible. And they looked good during the last period of the 4th game. But they lost four games in a row and are now out of the playoffs. It was stunning. And Pittsburgh was swept in the first round too and lost to the Islanders, who is coached by the man who led the Washington Capitols to win the Stanley Cup last season. Winnipeg Jets lost. I called them to get to the finals. The Calgary Flames lost. They are out. Nashville is down one game and not playing well so I suspect they will not advance to the next round. The Caps are playing for their life as their series is tied. This season has been remarkable with so many of the top teams in their division losing in the first round. Ken would say that the Tampa Bay team peaked too soon. He certainly would have been correct.