John Tortorella wants some credit for Tampa Bay's back-to-back Cups
"We've created a monster."
Boston native John Tortorella and the Columbus Blue Jackets are still the last ones to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in a playoff series. That happened after CBJ completed a four-game sweep on April 16th, 2019.
Torts recently spoke with The Athletic as he reflected on that series win.
He continued:
"I don't think it was Xs and Os. I think it was a mindset. That (2019) Lightning team was all-world when they came into the playoffs, and I don't think they respected us. Sometimes you've got to eat it, and when you eat it, you might still be stubborn and not want to change anything. They ate it and realized they had to change and play a little differently. They changed some personnel. It's a true credit to their organization that was willing to swallow a little bit and say, 'You know, we've got to change."
The Lightning have won 10 straight playoff series and two Stanley Cups since that loss and are currently up 3-2 in the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Final, aiming for that three-peat.
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