Through the first two games of the series the top line for the Tampa Bay Lightning has been held quiet at even strength. The Toronto Maple Leafs have managed to hold Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, and Ondrej Palat to just a lone assist (by Kucherov) in just over 20 minutes of ice time. The Maples Leafs accomplished that by matching fire with fire and having the Auston Matthews line on the ice for most of the time the Stamkos and his mates were on the ice. With the series shifting to Tampa and the Lightning now holding the last change, will Coach Cooper continue to match best vs. best or look for better advantages for his top line?
The fact that the Stamkos line only has 20 minutes of 5v5 ice time through two games kind of shows you how weird the series has been due to all of the penalties so far. Unfortunately, in that limited amount of time, the Maple Leafs have had the better run of play. Sheldon Keefe has also run his best defensive pair against the line with Jake Muzzin and TJ Brodie leading the way in regards of ice time against Kucherov, Palat, and Stamkos.
In order to get his best players going, Coach Cooper might have to find ways to get them away from those match-ups. All three of the forwards are under water in regards to shot attempts and expected goals percentage. Palat (29.44% xGF) and Stamkos (33.82% xGF) have struggled in particular to generate quality offense at even strength.
In all likelihood he’s going to shift the responsibility of shutting down Matthews to the Brayden Point line. On paper, Point, Anthony Cirelli, and Brandon Hagel have the best shot at slowing down Toronto’s best line. That would likely leave Stamkos and friends to take on the second line, headed by John Tavares that also hasn’t had much going for them at even strength this series.
The Lightning are going to need a way to generate some offense at even strength, they can’t rely on the power play to carry them to three more wins. Freeing up the Stamkos line may be the key to that. Hopefully it starts tonight in Tampa.
Lightning / NHL News
Tampa Bay evens the series, but plenty of work left [Raw Charge]
Matt liked a lot of what he saw in Game Two, but there were still some areas that needed improving if the Lightning want to make this a long run in the playoffs.
Ryan McDonagh is a playoff mainstay [Tampa Bay Times]
Death. Taxes. Ryan McDonagh in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The rugged Lightning defenseman is playing in his 12th consecutive season. He’s never missed them in his career. That’s pretty impressive.
Trip to Tampa will be no day at the beach [Toronto Sun]
Do you think headline writers hate themselves after they post some of these? Aside from the first couple of sentences it’s actually a halfway decent story.
The 2023 IIHF World Juniors is heading to Halifax and Moncton [Hockey Canada]
The stars of tomorrow (which may include whoever the Lightning use their first round pick on this summer) will be playing under the big lights in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The post-Christmas tournament was originally scheduled to be hosted by Russia, but the IIHF stripped them of the honor last month.
U.S. Mens Hockey releases roster for the 2022 World Championships in Latvia [USA Hockey]
The tournament is always overshadowed by the playoffs, but the U.S. delegation features a collection of college hockey players and NHLers whose teams didn’t make the playoffs.
Old friend Barclay Goodrow wasn’t in the line-up in the Rangers second game of their series against the Penguins. It looks like he could be out for a bit:
Gallant: Goodrow week to week, Lindgren game time decision. #NYR
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) May 6, 2022
The Great One leaning into the meme:
BREAK THE INTERNET. @WayneGretzky pic.twitter.com/9LUHQyJ1e8
— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) May 5, 2022
Things you hate to see:
Boston’s Brad Marchand has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for Slashing Carolina’s Pyotr Kochetkov.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) May 5, 2022
Last Night’s Scores
New York Rangers 5-2 over the Pittsburgh Penguins, Series tied 1-1
Florida Panthers 5-1 over the Washington Capitals, Series tied 1-1
Colorado Avalanche 2-1 (OT) over the Nashville Predators, COL leads 2-0
Dallas Stars 2-0 over the Calgary Flames, Series tied 1-1
Related
Rangers bounce back in Game Two
Caps Fall to Panthers in Game Two
Makar’s Legend Grows
Stars blank Flames
Tonight’s Other Games
Carolina Hurricanes at Boston Bruins, 7:00 PM EST, TNT, SN360
Carolina leads series 2-0
Minnesota Wild at St. Louis Blues, 9:30 PM EST, TNT, SN360
Series tied 1-1
Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings, 10:00 PM EST, TBS, CBC
Series tied 1-1
Some highlights from last night
Hey may not be Sid the Kid any longer, but Sidney Crosby is still good at hockey.
Just Sidney Crosby things. Pulls his team within one with this score. pic.twitter.com/qFm0PCenDS
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) May 6, 2022
Cale Makar is still a kid, but he is also good at the sport of hockey. The overtime winner spoiled a pretty good start for old friend Connor Ingram who had 48 saves in his first NHL playoff start.
Cale Makar for the win in overtime pic.twitter.com/2wRT5vrot5
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) May 6, 2022
Connor Ingram’s best save of the night, keeping Nazem Kadri off the board and the game tied 1-1. #Preds pic.twitter.com/R5cZeAUu9h
— Alex Daugherty (@AlexDaugherty1) May 6, 2022
Speaking of young goalies, Stars’ netminder Jake Oettinger is on one right now. With his shutout in Game Two he hasn’t allowed a goal in his last 114:59 of play. That’s pretty good! Is it good enough to carry the Stars into the second round?
No need to fight over it, we know Jake Oettinger is elite.
📺: @BallySportsSW | #OneStateOneTeam pic.twitter.com/klgePKKE4y
— x – Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) May 6, 2022
