How Sweep It Is

Wednesday night the Tampa Bay Lightning moved into the Eastern Conference Finals with a 5-3 win over the Washington Capitals and won the series four games to none. Before the game Capitals' star Alex Ovechkin guaranteed a win for the Caps. Apparently the Lightning had other plans. This is the first time a number one seed, the Capitals, has been swept in the first or second round of the playoffs since conference play started in 1994. Ryan Malone scored the first goal of the game to give the Bolts a 1-0 lead. Sean Bergenheim lead the way for the Bolts in scoring by putting two goals on the board for the Lightning. Martin St. Louis sealed the deal for the Bolts putting them ahead 5-2 with 3:08 left in the third. John Carlson scored for the Caps but it was too little, too late for the Capitals. The Lightning picked up the win and awaits the winner of the Flyers-Bruins series. Currently the Bruins are leading three games to none.

The Lightning's Sean Bergenheim after scoring the first of his two goals.

It has been a storybook season for the Bolts. They have had many doubters since the beginning of the year with rookie GM Steve Yzerman and rookie coach Guy Boucher. Many questioned how well Boucher's 1-3-1 defensive system would work. It has worked well as the Lightning took the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. The Lightning then faced the fourth seeded Pittsburgh Penguins. At one point the Bolts were down three games to one. They then fought hard and won three straight, including two in Pittsburgh. The Lightning then had to face the number one seeded Caps. Few hockey "experts" picked the Bolts to win the series, let alone sweep the Capitals. Personally, I felt that they could beat the Caps, although I didn't actually think it'd be a sweep, because they had been playing well and the Capitals are a better team in the regular season than the playoffs. The Lightning's Dwayne Roloson played well throughout the series and made key saves when needed. The real hero for the Bolts has been Sean Bergenheim. Bergenheim is tied for the league lead in playoff goals with seven. Also their stars have been playing like stars. Hart trophy, MVP award, nominee Martin St. Louis has been a force for the Lightning. Vinny Lecavalier has return to form by scoring five goals, including the winner in overtime in game two against the Caps, and has 12 points. The Bolts' next game will be sometime after the Flyers-Bruins series is figured out and when the Western Conference gets out its' two finalists. If the Lightning win the next series they will advance to the Stanley Cup Finals and play for the Stanley Cup.