TAMPA FLIGHT – Events Tampa Bay Lightning removed New York Ranger and advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the third consecutive season, with Colorado Avalanche rest and get ready for Game 1 (Wednesday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Here are five things we’ve learned about Lightning so far in 2022 after the season their journeys and their implications for the final match.
Peat three at hand
The NHL hasn’t had a three-man team of Stanley Cup champions since 1983, when New York Islanders end their reign. Since then, six other teams have won the Stanley Cup in a row. Five of them failed to make it through to the second round until the Lightning won the Eastern Championship this season.
“You don’t get these opportunities very often. They don’t show up around. It’s like we’ve seen the top of the mountain. Let’s keep learning more,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said.
It was a classic for the Stanley Cup: Colorado Avalanche, finally trying to pull through to win their first Cup since 2001 after a couple of years as frontrunners; and The Lightning, now just four wins away from an unprecedented feat in the NHL’s era of pay caps, which began in 2005.
“To go there for the first time is a dream come true. To go there for the second time, next year, is also a dream. There is no way for us to go back. To go a third time is a dream. unbelievable,” Cooper said. “To see their development, watch the pain… I’m really impressed with what they do to win a hockey game. No one can blame them for saying ‘hey, we’re there. I won one or two.’ But to go a third? I’m impressed.”
To win their third Cup in a row, the Lightning will have to beat what Stamkos believes is the strongest team in the NHL.
“Colorado? Probably the best team in the league,” Stamkos said. “As you get through the knockouts, each round gets tougher and each opponent gets tougher. There’s a reason why there are two teams left, and that’s because they’re the two strongest teams. We will be full of our own hands.”
(Mostly) old faces, same success
Avalanche is facing a team of Lightning whose core is similar to the teams that have won the Cup in a row.
Tampa Bay is powered by the stars:
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Center Steven Stamkoscaptain of the team with 481 career goals
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Run wings Nikita Kucherova former MVP of the league and top scorer of the knockout round
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Center Brayden’s pointwho has missed almost two rounds through injury but has scored more playoff goals than any other player in the past three breaks
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Defender player Victor Hedmannominated for six consecutive seasons for the Norris Trophy as NHL top guard and playoff MVP in 2020
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Defender player Ryan McDonagha stable veteran
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Goalie Andrei VasilevskiyMVP playoff 2021
They are supported by a returning cast that includes wingers Ondrej Palat, who scored two goals in extra time, winning over Rangers; rugged striker Alex Killorn and Pat Maroon, who is trying to play on his fourth consecutive Cup winner; ace defense center Anthony Cirelli, who closed the Rangers’ flagship; and smooth skating protection of Mikhail Sergachev.
One of the most impressive things about this run? That the Lightning had lost its entire line of checks and several players who played a key role in the past two Cup winners; replace them with veteran pickup trucks (Corey Perry, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare) and redeem the transaction term (Brandon Hagel, Nick Paul); and don’t miss a beat.
“We were looking for a good fit,” said GM Julien BriseBois. “We’re looking for guys with pride and ambition. Pride is what will keep you motivated to keep pushing yourself when things don’t go well for you. Ambition will drive success consistently. your custom. You’re still hungry for more.”
Kucherov is the elite
Avalanche and Lightning both have elite skaters who can take over games. Kucherov was the chief among them. Kucherov has 23 points after 17 games, distributed fairly evenly between 5 vs 5 and plays for power. No NHL player has scored more points than Kucherov in the past three postseasons. While his scoring ability was stellar, his ability to play and distribute the ball earned him the score.
Look no further than the conference finalists. His perfect pass let Ondrej Palat score in game 3, when the whole arena had to think overtime. In game 6, his pass to Stamkos as the captain scored in the net made the winning goal of the series.
He is the one who sets the speed for Lightning. When he’s confident and cool, they’ll notice. “You can hear chatter on the bench as he leaves the pitch [the ice]. People who know that your best player is ‘on’ in a big game,” Stamkos said.
If Lightning wins a third Stanley Cup in a row, it could be Kucherov’s turn to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP.
Can Avs beat Vasilevskiy?
Colorado has caught a number of break-goers this season. The The Nashville Predator No starters were injured Juuse Saros. The St. Louis Blues lost a revival Jordan Binnington Injury in game 3. And Edmonton Oilers Goalie Mike Smith to be … well, Mike Smith.
Opponent goalkeepers have a combined savings of 0.886 compared to Avalanche after this season. But barring something unforeseen, the Avalanche will face their toughest match on their net in the Stanley Cup Final – and the player considered by many to be the best goalkeeper in the world.
Post-tournament didn’t get off to a good start for Vasilevskiy, as he hit the high octane 22 goals in seven games Toronto Maple Leafs. But he was sublime when it mattered most, saving 30 of his 31 shots in Game 7. Aside from a Game 1 glitch against Rangers, after nine days out of the job, Vasilevskiy was absolutely dominating. As coach Jon Cooper put it, he “regained his spirits” by the time the playoffs rolled around.
In Vasilevskiy, Avalanche faced one of the greatest post-tournament goalkeepers in NHL history. It’s not just how good he is, but it’s when he’s at his best: In the previous 23 consecutive games, Vasilevskiy averaged 1.65 above average and six saves. . A third consecutive Stanley Cup could cement his legacy as one of the best ever.
“When we look back, when we’re older, that’s going to be something that’s going to last a long time. It’s great to play with a player that’s going to go downhill like one of the best to ever play the game,” he said. Killorn said. “That’s how you judge the players: How they play in the big games. He’s nothing out of the ordinary in these games.”
That unrivaled adaptability
All the way to the Finals, Avalanche was the team that could win a game 8-6 as comfortably as they could win 4-0. In fact, they did both in the same series against the Edmonton Oilers. Like a Colorado star Nathan MacKinnon Avalanche could play flourishing offensively at home, said Avalanche, and then play “boring and gross” hockey on the road to slow the teams down.
The Avalanche are cooking with a recipe that Lightning created during their two previous championship seasons. Tampa Bay has attacking players to score with with Avalanche, who lead the knockout stages with 4.64 goals per game. But the Lightning is also likely to win 1-0, with veteran players showing the patience it takes to do so.
“I think it’s just faith in yourself and faith in the work you put in. But trust is credibility. We trust every guy who passes those boards will do his job well. whether you score a goal, it’s the little things you do it’s defensive It’s about going out onto the field and playing your best for the man sitting next to you in that dressing room,” Stamkos said.
“That’s why this group is so special. We don’t know what’s going to happen here in the next 10-14 days. But we know we’ll give it our all.”
There’s no telling how a series will unfold before it’s broadcast, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Stanley Cup Finals turn into a battle between Colorado’s offense and the various ways Tia lightning will try to protect it. They have Vasilevskiy as their mainstay. They have Hedman and McDonagh playing almost 47 minutes per game between them. They have a newly formed check line with Hagel, Cirelli and Killorn, who have dominated Rangers 5v5, and a set of strikers who pride themselves on defending by any means necessary. .
“Is it contagious? It does. God forbid you to watch a guy [block a shot] and then you have the opportunity to do it. You come to the bench and it’s not a fun place if you’re not willing to do it. So people will line up for that matter,” Cooper said. It’s been history with us for many years. It has been built into our culture. “
A culture of champions, and a culture that will make for an excellent Stanley Cup Final against Avalanche.
Stamkos said Avalanche is the team the Lightning is expected to play for for the Stanley Cup. Colorado has failed to make it past the second round for three consecutive seasons.
“They’ve broken through now,” Stamkos said. “They have an unbelievable mix of veteran players, stars, grinders, goalkeepers. A huge challenge for us.” “We know how we have to play. It’s no secret that they have some arcade machines.”
So does Lightning. They can run and shoot. But chances are, it’s their defense that can make the difference between being sixth team since 1983 lack of peat three or the first dynasty to officially have a hat.
“We don’t care how it gets done. It just needs to be done,” Stamkos said. “We’re in the final again. We have the opportunity to do something really special.”
