NHL on TNT crew has perfect guest in Cooper to talk long playoff games

Talk about an expert opinion from a guest analyst.

The NHL on TNT crew had Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper on the broadcast to talk about extremely long Stanley Cup Playoff hockey games and was he ever the guy to talk to.

In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final, the Florida Panthers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes in

four overtime periods

.

Cooper could scoff at that if he wished (he didn't), but you may remember his Lightning won a

memorable Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round in 2020

against the Columbus Blue Jackets in a game that went

five overtime periods

.

While joining TNT's panel of Wayne Gretzky, Liam McHugh, Anson Carter and Paul Bissonnette, Cooper was asked about participating in very long games. And he said what everyone was thinking.

"Enough's enough. This game's got to end," Cooper laughed, echoing a sentiment from Gretzky during the live broadcast.

It did end, eventually, in favor of the Lightning, thanks to Brayden Point.

Cooper then said by the time the fifth overtime rolled around, almost his entire team was in the training room getting fluids so he decided to have the intermission meeting in there.

There's something to be said for keeping it simple, especially when the person saying it has two Stanley Cup rings.