Say what? Bolts get flattened in opening playoff game

Memo to the Lightning: The playoffs have started, fellas. We’re just making sure you know that.

The two-time defending Stanley Cup champions looked like anything but a Cup contender in a 5-0 blowout loss Monday at Toronto in the opening game of their first-round playoff series.

The Lightning looked sloppy and disorganized throughout much of the game, committing too many turnovers and penalties.

Game 2 is on Wednesday in Toronto.

“The Tampa Bay Lightning will be a far better team when they come back in here,” Toronto Coach Sheldon Keefe said. “And we’re going to have to be better ourselves.”

– Joe Henderson, Extensive Enterprises