Tampa Bay Lightning
TAMPA — A year ago, the Lightning played the part of the new kid entering a classroom for the first time just before final exams.
They studied for the first foray into the postseason with a young nucleus of players, but bombed the test in getting swept aside in the first round.
A year later, those lessons proved a vital training ground as Tampa Bay passed the first test this time around.
The Lightning knocked off Detroit 2-0 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal on Wednesday in front of a sold out crowd of 19,204 at Amalie Arena.