Stanley Cup Final pits Lightning vs. high-scoring Avalanche
DENVER (AP) — To win the Stanley Cup every of the previous two years, the Tampa Bay Lightning needed to undergo the stingy New York Islanders, defending Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens backstopped by goaltender Carey Value.
To hoist it a 3rd consecutive time, they’ll must cease or no less than decelerate the very best scoring staff within the playoffs. The Colorado Avalanche current a singular problem for the Lightning, however they already received previous the offensively potent Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers to succeed in the Cup final.
“It’s humorous the way it works out that manner, however the guys have discovered a manner and we’ve simply needed to adapt our recreation and discover methods to beat groups,” coach Jon Cooper stated. “You must play the sport alternative ways at occasions. We have now a perception in how we play, we’ve got a system and we belief what we do, however you do must tinker with it somewhat bit to fight particularly these high-octane groups.”
The Lightning in years previous have been that high-octane staff, capable of rating just about at will. Getting swept within the first spherical in 2019 after steamrolling the remainder of the NHL within the common season made them change their strategy.
Tampa Bay’s 2.41 targets in opposition to this postseason is the bottom of any staff that made it previous the primary spherical. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is an enormous a part of that, nevertheless it’s a concerted effort by the complete staff to lock issues down.
“We have now sufficient ability and expertise to attain offensively, however we concentrate on our defensive recreation,” winger Alex Killorn stated. “If we don’t allow them to rating, we win 2-1, we’re proud of that. We don’t received to win by six targets or no matter it might be.”
Right here’s a take a look at how issues stack up within the Stanley Cup Final, which begins Wednesday evening at Colorado:
CONTAINING SKILL
There’s no scarcity of high-end expertise on this sequence. The Avalanche have Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog up entrance and playoff MVP frontrunner Cale Makar on protection, whereas the Lightning function Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman and Steven Stamkos and could be getting first-line center Brayden Point back from harm.
Tampa Bay’s recipe for holding proficient opponents begins with shutdown middle Anthony Cirelli and his linemates, who may discover themselves matched up in opposition to MacKinnon and Rantanen.
“We simply must attempt to play with our power and attempt to discover a solution to get a pair targets there and in addition defend effectively as a result of they will rating, clearly, too, Rantanen stated.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
The sequence options two Norris Trophy finalists for the league’s prime defenseman in Hedman and Makar. And every one dominates the ice otherwise.
Hedman, a 6-foot-6 Swede, gained the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP in 2020 for a way a lot of the sport he managed and the variety of targets he helped create. He can do every part,“ Makar stated.
Makar is a dynamic puck mover and clean skater who could make virtually something occur by himself.
“He’s received an important wrist shot, runs the facility play and his edge work is phenomenal,” Hedman stated. “He can change instructions in a short time, so clearly two totally different sort of gamers, I might say, him and me, however I don’t suppose any considered one of us is taking a look at that battle. It’s a staff recreation and I’m positive each of us are going to do no matter it takes for our staff to achieve success.”
DIFFERENT PATHS
The Avalanche swept Nashville within the first spherical, then dispatched St. Louis in six and swept Edmonton within the Western Convention closing. The Lightning went the gap to beat Toronto in seven, swept Florida and got here again from a 2-0 deficit to knock off the New York Rangers in six.
Colorado goes greater than every week between video games, whereas Tampa Bay is coming off the Rangers sequence that ended Saturday evening. MacKinnon stated he and his teammates are excited to play with some recent legs and confidence.
“We have now our keys of why we’re right here,” he stated. “It’s not an accident. We didn’t simply get a bunch of excellent bounces and win. We’ve been enjoying very well and incomes all of the victories we’ve got, and we’ve earned our relaxation and we’re excited.”
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Comply with AP Hockey Author Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno
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