TORONTO, ONT Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper took exception to the Columbus Blue Jackets being referred to as a blue-collar team.
Is that a positive or a negative? Cooper said Monday, a day before his Eastern Conference second-seeded Lightning open the first round of the NHL playoffs against the seventh-seeded Blue Jackets.
Thats in the history books forever, Cooper said, noting how both teams have made various changes to their lineups.
Id call them a really good team.Familiarity is breeding respect among the East opponents entering the first round.
The Islanders hold a 5-2 playoff series edge over Washington.