Lightning's Penalty-Fueled Playoff Run

0:00It's April 22nd, from game day to every day, this is NHL news today, powered by AI. The Tampa Bay Lightning topped the NHL this season with 1,207 penalty minutes, 229 more than the next. Team and double what the Colorado Avalanche had. They're keeping that rough style in the playoffs against Montreal, racking up 41 penalty minutes over the first two games. For getting bounced by the Florida Panthers last year, Tampa's copying their playbook, those Panthers led the league in penalties on Routou. Back to backcups. As the Lightning's core players age, they shifted from pure speed to bullying opponents, nearly doubling their own penalty total from two years. Ego. Coach John Cooper calls it, stepping up as the league's villains and fans are eating it up. Ford Brandon Hagel is the spark, mixing goals with fights and taunts that fire up the crowd, like mocking a bigger haps player after dropping him. In game 1, Tampa's penalties cost them three power play goals and an overtime loss.

1:03They cleaned up a bit in game 2-4 win, but still danced close to the edge, with Montreal going just one for four on the power play. This physical grind has them up one game to one heading into game 3 in Montreal, and expect the hits and scraps to ramp up as they fight for. Another deep run.