Here’s How the Lightning’s Owner Wants Game 7 Between the Leafs and Bruins to Go

Alex Nino Gheciu April 24, 2018

We’ve got ourselves a goddamn series, folks. After the Toronto Maple Leafs came out strong in their 3-1 victory over the Boston Bruins Monday night, the two teams are set to battle it out in Game 7 for a spot in the second round of the NHL playoffs. We’ve certainly been here before, and if you’re a Leafs fan, the game might be too much to bear. By now, you’ve likely played out the best-case and worst-case scenarios several times in your head.

Apparently, Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik has been thinking about the game too. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the Bolts’ head honcho detailed his exact wishes for the showdown between the Leaf and Bruins — the winner of which will face the Lightning in the next round:

#TBLightning owner Jeff Vinik, at @Marriott groundbreaking in Tampa, on @MapleLeafs–@NHLBruins Game 7: “I hope they go four overtimes and beat the crap out of each other.”

— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithTB) April 24, 2018

Heh. Four overtimes. Funny guy, that Jeff. My blood pressure tripled just reading that tweet.

While a quadruple overtime dogfight would certainly be in Vinik’s interests (the winner would immediately have to face Tampa either on Friday or Saturday), Atlantic Division owners don’t have the greatest track record of making predictions for this series. Earlier in the month, Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk made it clear he didn’t have high hopes for the Buds:

After revealing he used to be a Toronto season ticket holder earlier in his life, Eugene Melnyk says the Maple Leafs will get "blown out" by the Boston Bruins in five games.

— TSN 1200 (@TSN1200) April 10, 2018