Tampa Bay Lightning get crushed by Twitter after being swept out of NHL playoffs

The Tampa Bay Lightning had the best record in the NHL this year, tied a record for the most-ever wins (62) in an NHL season, and entered the playoffs as the favorites to win the Stanley Cup.

But then their playoff-run lasted just four games, as they were stunningly swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets, who ended things with a 7-3 win in Tuesday’s Game 4.

Wow. Just wow.

I mean, this is a historic collapse that should be in all such lists moving forward for many years to come because boy did they seem head and shoulders above everybody else all season long.

It was so bad the team quickly issued this statement to fans on Twitter:

We don’t have any words and we know you don’t want to hear them.

We understand your anger, your frustration, your sadness. Everything you’re feeling – we get it.

This isn’t the ending we imagined, and certainly not the one we wanted. Thank you for being there the entire way.

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) April 17, 2019

But that didn’t stop people from roasting them:

The Lightning should fold the franchise.

— Adam Schein (@AdamSchein) April 17, 2019

The Lightning didn’t even grow playoff shadow.

— Jason Gay (@jasongay) April 17, 2019

The Lightning tying the NHL record for wins and getting
***swept***
***IN THE FIRST ROUND***
*******BY THE 8 SEED*******
is an all-time sports disaster.

— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) April 17, 2019

The Stanley Cup favorite Tampa Bay Lightning have been swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets. @DKSportsbook offered 40 to 1 odds at the beginning of the series of this happening. Not a single bettor thought it was worth even a penny.

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 17, 2019

The Tampa Bay Lightning's 62 regular-season wins were tied for the most by a team in NHL history.

They got swept out of the playoffs in the first round. pic.twitter.com/30hrVX3OQX

— ESPN (@espn) April 17, 2019

Tampa becomes the 1st Presidents' Trophy winner to fail to win a game in the playoffs 😬 https://t.co/5mk7uAZZ7A

— Hockey Night in Canada (@hockeynight) April 17, 2019

#CBJ sweeps the Lightning!

I haven’t seen a postseason beating like that since . . . pic.twitter.com/1IoQU0maHi

— Arrogant Urban Meyer (@ArrogantUrban) April 17, 2019

We would like to thank the 62 win Presidents’ Trophy Champion Tampa Bay Lightning for their participation in the 2019 NHL Playoffs. pic.twitter.com/LAuFH4fAPZ

— McNeil (@Reflog_18) April 17, 2019