Jon Cooper is playing a dangerous game, benches his 3 best players then tries to explain why

PUBLICATION

Liam
March 4, 2023 (4:45 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

After three consecutive losses, the Tampa Bay Lightning were desperate for a win facing Buffalo on the road today. Since the team acquired Tanner Jeannot from Nashville for an absurd price at the deadline, the team has struggled greatly, and today's game against Buffalo was no different.

However it wasn't Tampa's bottom six that wasn't able to get the job done today - it was their star players, Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, and Brayden Point. Down multiple goals in the third period, coach Jon Cooper was so dissatisfied with their performance, that his first line didn't see any ice time in the third period.

After the game, Cooper scathed his first line for their performance, and raved about the depth of the team and their culture of winning above all else, which led to the decision to bench the stars.

Well, as coaches, you've got to put your team in the best position to win and 99.9% of the time, those guys give us the best chance to win when they're on the ice. I just felt, in the third period, they weren't giving us the best chance to win. This team has been unbelievable for a decade. You take the three Finals. Well, there's a reason a lot of that's happened. We have a set of standards here that everybody adheres to, and it's not pick and choose. It's everybody. It's how it was for today. Like I said, those guys are an extremely important part of our team, but for 20 minutes tonight, I thought the other guys could get it done and you know what? They almost did.

We've got a lot of pride in this this room and in our organization. It's not a situation where you're upset with guys or you feel differently about guys. You've got to come here and go to work. It's the best league in the world with the best players in the world. If you're not on it and you're not giving it to the standard that this franchise has set the bar for, for me, the league in the last how many years? You can't go out there. Like said, those guys are the reason we have a standard that high. It's because of those guys. Just for a period tonight, that was it

Tampa ended up falling to Buffalo by a score of 5-3, after going down by a score of 5-1 in the second period. With their loss, they're now firmly in third place in the Atlantic division, set to take on the Maple Leafs on the road in the first round of the playoffs.

POLL
MARS 4 \| 135 ANSWERS Jon Cooper is playing a dangerous game, benches his 3 best players then tries to explain why Is Jon Cooper going to lose the room soon?
Yes	35	25.9 %
No	42	31.1 %
He won back to back Stanley cups, stop it	46	34.1 %
Maybe, but he won't get fired	12	8.9 %
List of polls

MUST READ

Feb 17, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Brandon Hagel (38) controls the puck during the first period in a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team Finland at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

1 hour ago | By Tom Banks

Brandon Hagel Puts the Final Nail in the Coffin After Latest Shot at the Tkachuk Brothers and Team USA

Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada goalie Jordan Binnington (50) stops Team United States forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

2 hours ago | By Tom Banks

Brady Tkachuk and Insider Both Give Devastating Update On Matthew Tkachuk's Injury Situation

Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Brad Marchand (63) lifts the 4 Nations Face-Off trophy after winning against Team USA in overtime during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

3 hours ago | By Daniel Lucente

Brad Marchand Puts the Tkachuk Brothers on Blast Following Championship Win

Feb 17, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada defenseman Josh Morrissey (44) and forward Anthony Cirelli (71) try and find the loose puck during the second period in a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team Finland at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

17 hours ago | By Graham Montgomery

Team Canada Star Defenseman Ruled Out Moments Before Final Showdown with Team USA

Feb 17, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Connor McDavid (97) shoots the puck while Team Finland defenseman Olli Maata (3) defends during the first period in a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

17 hours ago | By Graham Montgomery

American Reporter Mocks Connor McDavid Hours Ahead of the Biggest Game of his Life

Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates his goal against Team Finland in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

19 hours ago | By Tom Banks

NHL Players Reportedly Prioritizing Four Nations: Will Miss Time With Their Teams

Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward brandon Hagel (38) plays the puck and Team United States defenseman Charlie McAvoy (25) defends in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

22 hours ago | By Tom Banks

Charlie McAvoy Sends Team USA and the World a Message After Leaving the Hospital

Dec 12, 2024; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Dennis Cholowski (25) celebrates his goal against the Chicago Blackhawks with right wing Simon Holmstrom (10) during the second period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

23 hours ago | By Tom Banks