Despite a 3-1 series deficit against the Toronto Maple Leafs, it would be bold to bury a giant like the Tampa Bay Lightning immediately.
The Leafs, remember, were leading 3-2 midway through the third period in Game 6 of 2022, about ten minutes from passing the first round, when Nikita Kucherov caused the tie. Brayden Point scored in overtime and the Lightning won Game 7 in Toronto en route to a third straight final.
But this time, the Maple Leafs lead by three games to one. Against a beast that seems to waver. The Lightning are coming off a three-game playoff streak for the first time since their shock early elimination to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2018.
The Lightning also aren’t used to losing a 4-1 lead in the third period like they did on Monday…
Goalkeeper Andrei Vasilevskiy, a monster of composure and efficiency, is only a shadow of himself with an average of 4.33 and a save percentage of .856.
No team has allowed more goals on average since the start of the playoffs. The defense is not the same either. Ryan McDonagh, traded to the Nashville Predators over salary cap concerns, averaged 22:26 in the playoffs last year. Only Victor Hedman was used more often.
Erik Cernak, a mainstay in the top 4 despite limited offensive skills, was injured in Game 1 and is not expected to be back. Jan Rutta also left, but his role was more limited.
Tampa nevertheless finds itself with two pillars to replace compared to last year’s playoffs, and a weakened Hedman.
Darren Raddysh, 27, with just 21 games of NHL experience, finds himself averaging 25:43 per game, trailing Mikhail Sergachev at 27:28.
Ian Cole, 34, an unlimited-mileage supporting defender — four teams since 2021, Colorado, Minnesota, Carolina and Tampa Bay — tops 20 minutes since the start of the series.
Not to mention a certain Nick Perbix, 24, a sixth-round pick in 2017, a faithful soldier certainly, but whose first career experience in the playoffs, and downright his first year in the professional ranks after four seasons in the NCAA. Zach Bogosian, with his limits, completes the group.
Toronto kept the same core, Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares, Reilly, Brodie and company, but the backing band was revamped. So almost half of the team didn’t experience last year’s cruel elimination.
Goalies are different. Jack Campbell is now in Edmonton, rich with a contract of 25 million, but now confined to an auxiliary role. Ilya Samsonov, whose contract was bought out by the Washington Capitals last summer, is not doing too badly.
In defense, Ilya Lyubushkin switched to the Sabers and Jake Muzzin is injured… probably forever. They were replaced by Jake McCabe, acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks at the trade deadline for a first-round pick, and Luke Schenn, acquired the next day for a third-round pick.
On offense, David Kampf is the only survivor of the two support lines. Exit Pierre Engvall, Ilya Mikheyev, Ondrej Kase, Colin Blackwell and Jason Spezza, replaced by Ryan O’Reilly, Noel Acciari, Zach Asthon-Reese, Sam Lafferty and now Matthew Knies, freshly signed after a brilliant career in the NCAA. Let’s also add Calle Jarnkrok.
Most of these new acquisitions have extensive playoff experience. O’Reilly won the Stanley Cup and Most Valuable Player award in 2019 with the St. Louis Blues. His arrival pushes Kampf from the third to the fourth line. Acciari reached the Finals with the Boston Bruins in 2019 and Jarnkrok followed suit with the Nashville Predators in 2017.
See how we added at the Maple Leafs and subtracted at the Lightning? Can the Leafs finish off the wounded beast?
We did not give much of the skin of the Devils after two games. But coach Lindy Ruff pulled a rabbit out of his hat: Akira Schmid, a Swiss goaltender just 22 years old, 6-foot-5, and 205 pounds.
Schmid, a 2018 fifth-round pick, 136th overall, the ninth goaltender selected in his class, is coming off 2-1 and 3-1 wins at Madison Square Garden over Rangers offensive stars Panarin, Kreider , Zibanejad, Kane, Tarasenko and company.
But for Rangers coach Gerard Gallant, the keeper was not the difference. “We’re not competitive,” he said during his press briefing after Monday’s loss. We put a lot of pressure on them in the first two games, but tonight our weak side winger was a bit lazy and just stayed in his lane to watch the game unfold instead of making things happen. We were not leaning on the neutral zone. »
The series is tied 2-2. Let’s see if Gallant’s message will be heard in Game 5.
