When John Tavares scored his Game 6 OT winner against Tampa back in May, it led to a lot of happy faces and a lot of cheers in Toronto. Not so much for the Lightning, who were looking for their 3rd Stanley Cup in 4 years. On Wednesday, disgruntled defenseman Mikhail Sergachev claimed that the Lightning are still pissed off at the Leafs as we approach the start of the 2023-24 season.
"Yeah, obviously we're pissed off. We don't want to lose. We don't want to be the team that Toronto finally got to the second round, and they beat the Tampa Bay Lightning. They didn't go through the second round. But we didn't want to be that and lose to them," Sergachev said. "In my head, we should've won the Cup."
Sergachev revealed to Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts this week that the Lightning have had a very different demeanor in practice, even at informal skates. A lot more competition. A lot more intensity. It's clear that they feel as though they have something to prove this season.
"We'll see when camp starts how pissed off we are. The guys are very competitive even now. Usually, before camp, we skate [together]. We'll do five drills and play a game. Usually, it's like beer-league hockey. Now, it's intense. Some hitting, too. It's great. Competitive. No one is going to let me walk them on the blue line. It's not acceptable anymore."
The 25-year-old is entering the first year of his 8-year extension he signed in July of last year that will see him earn $8.5M per season. Sergachev and the Lightning will not have to wait long to show the Leafs just how pissed off they are as they visit Toronto on October 22nd in what will be the first meeting since the Leafs eliminated the Lightning.
