"My dad grew up being a major Leafs fan," Cooper said on Sunday after practice. "I had to ask him last night who he was cheering for in the series. Thankfully he had the right answer."
The Lightning face the Maple Leafs in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Scotiabank Arena on Monday (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN2, CBC, TVAS, SN, BSSUN). Cooper said he is looking forward to the opportunity to coach against his dad's favorite team.
"It's a little shocking that we've not met, not in my tenure here," Cooper said. "We've met other teams in our division multiple times, and this is a first for us. Probably a long time coming, two similar teams that have been near the top of the standings for a number of years now. I think it's good for hockey, I think this is two established franchises that have been at the top of their game for a decade now or so and it's about time we met in the playoffs."
RELATED: [Complete Maple Leafs vs. Lightning series coverage]
While the Lightning embark on a quest to become the first NHL franchise to win three consecutive Stanley Cup championships since the New York Islanders won four in a row from 1980-83, the Maple Leafs are not only looking for their first Stanley Cup championship in 55 years, but their first playoff series win since 2004.
"There's no doubt guys are aware of it," Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. "We've been through a lot here, guys have been through a lot even before my time. But, the focus is simply on this team and this opportunity that we have here. We've been through a lot to get through 82 games, you experience a lot of different things. Your team and the individuals get tested a lot through the 82 games, so when I just focus on this team, this team is excited about what is ahead.
"We know the challenge is great but that just makes the opportunity greater."
The Maple Leafs established new team records for wins (54) and points (115) during the 2021-22 season. Their reward is a matchup with the two-time defending champion Lightning, who won eight of their final 11 regular-season games, including an 8-1 win against Toronto on Apr. 21.
Keefe said he would not want it any other way.
"If you are going to push through the obstacle that we need to get through here you might as well start with the best," Keefe said. "These are the champs. Anytime we've been challenged as a hockey team this season, we've responded really well. So, I think that we have great respect for Tampa Bay, [and] there's no arguing it, debating it, they are the class of the League at this point. They've proven that, they've earned that, but there's no doubt our team will be ready for them."
Cooper was somewhat nostalgic after the Lightning held practice at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto. It is the same arena in which he, along with Lightning forwards Alex Killorn and Ondrej Palat, won the 2012 Calder Cup with Norfolk, then part of the American Hockey League, against the Toronto Marlies.
"I love being here," Cooper said.
On Monday, he said he will love being behind the Lightning bench at Scotiabank Arena facing the Maple Leafs even more.
"To play teams like that, Original Six, there's just something unique about it in such a special way," Cooper said. "Growing up watching from Wendel Clark to Daryl Sittler to (now) Auston Matthews. It's a city that's proud of their hockey, passionate about their hockey, maybe almost over the top but when you are in this game, coaching at the highest level, there's no better place to play in the spot that everybody cares the most and that's why it's great to play Toronto."
