As if that wasn't fuel enough for the Buds, the Lightning are just 3 points back of the Leafs for 2nd in the Atlantic Division with two games in hand. The Leafs have shown in the past that they don't play their best when they're playing under pressure. Well, these are two points of pressure being applied and with the Buds coming in on a 2-game losing skid and the Bolts coming in on a 5-game winning streak, if the Leafs don't start on time, it could be a very long night at Scotiabank Arena.
To add some fuel to the fire, Jon Cooper was asked what trade deadline acquisition Nick Paul has brought to the team since he arrived in Tampa last season. Cooper took the opportunity to fire a low blow at the Leafs when he responded saying, "Two goals in game 7."
Call me crazy, but I don't know if Cooper giving the Leafs any bulletin board material is a good thing for his team tonight. While the Leafs have lost two in a row, they collected points in the 15-straight games prior and hadn't lost in regulation in more than a month. The Leafs are a different team this year and giving them something to fire them up before a huge divisional game might be more of a "poke the bear" scenario than it is smart strategic decision from the two-time Stanley Cup winning coach.
