The Tampa Bay Lightning are still in contention for a three-peat.
After a difficult Game 4 defeat in which a too many men on the ice penalty was overlooked, the Lightning prevailed 3-2 on Friday night to prevent the Colorado Avalanche from claiming the Stanley Cup at home.
Instead, the series will return to Amalie Arena in Tampa on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET (ABC) with the Avalanche holding a 3-2 series advantage.
"You're down in the series, the Cup is in the building, it's a tremendous atmosphere for the home team, and you want to demonstrate gamesmanship. Jon Cooper, head coach of the Lightning, spoke to media on his team's performance.
The Lightning defeated Colorado with the help of a 35-save effort from goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, another timely goal from Ondrej Palat, a rare goal from Jan Rutta, and a rare power-play goal.
If you want to know about the following topics then follow the links.
Steven Stamkos, the team's captain, said, "Today we discussed how we had no option." "This was life or death for us. This group did a fantastic job of concentrating on the now, since people are often prone to thinking forward.
Late in the game, the Avalanche were penalised for having too many players on the ice, forcing them to defend rather than push for the tying goal.
In the previous two games of the series, the Avalanche had outscored the Lightning in the first period by a combined score of 6-1. On Friday, though, the Lightning lead 1-0 due to Rutta's first playoff goal of the year, a slap shot that beat Darcy Kuemper.
Valeri Nichushkin knotted the game at 5:07 of the second period after Vasilevskiy failed to control Cale Makar's deflected, floating shot and the puck dropped in the crease for a tap-in. The goal was Nichushkin's fourth in the series and ninth in the playoffs.
Tampa Bay scored on a 4-on-3 power play at 8:10 of the second period after Makar was penalised for tripping. This was the Lightning's first power-play goal in their previous four games.
Stamkos faked a shot before passing the ball back to Nikita Kucherov, who scored his ninth postseason goal and first of the series.
"I didn't like the call because there was no purpose," Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said of Makar's penalty. "I do not believe he was checking that individual. It seemed to me that he had just fallen over his walking stick. It's a difficult one."
Makar scored a fluke goal at 2:31 of the third period after Vasilevskiy made the first stop, but Erik Cernak's skate deflected the rebound into the net.
At 13:38, though, Palat handed Tampa Bay the victory with his eleventh postseason goal.
He was left alone in the slot and received a ball from Victor Hedman, who was positioned low in the Colorado zone.
"I was simply trying to open up, to get a little lost," said Palat. "I saw Heddy. He observed me. It was a simple attempt for me."
The Lightning overcame a 3-2 deficit to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, and then overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat the New York Rangers in the conference final.
"As nice as it feels to extend the series, we know how hard we had to work tonight to earn it, and we'll have to do the same at home," Stamkos said.
The Avalanche lost Game 5 of the second round against the St. Louis Blues when they had the opportunity to clinch at home, but then won Game 6 on the road. On the road in the playoffs, they are 8-1.
Bednar said, "Guys have been digging in on the road." "We have observed throughout the regular season. We've seen a significant improvement throughout the playoffs. Men arrive hungry and prepared to play."
Palat is added to the Conn Smythe Trophy equation
If the Avalanche had won the Cup on Friday night, Makar would have been the most likely contender for the Conn Smythe Trophy as postseason MVP.
However, if the Lightning are able to win the series, Palat would be given considerable consideration.
Seven of his eleven goals have been scored during the final frame. Two of the goals were scored in the last two minutes of regulation.
Cooper said of the approaching unrestricted free agent who has scored 12 career postseason game-winning goals, "He plays alongside some of the world's finest players every year." "He is usually the third person discussed on his line, but if you were to ask the other two players on his line, they may discuss him the most.
"He is an excellent supplement to skill players, checkers, and everywhere else you may need him. He just does his duties and is rewarded for his efforts."
Jeff Vinik flew the entire full-time staff of the Lightning to Denver to cheer on the squad. "He is a true gem. Cooper said of Vinik, "He's gold." ... The Lightning's Brayden Point and the Avalanche's Andre Burakovsky sat out again due to injury. Barry Trotz, the sacked coach of the New York Islanders, informed NHL.com that he will not coach this season in order to spend more time with his family. He was a candidate for the position with the Winnipeg Jets.
Source:
Comments
Post a Comment