Two-time Tampa Bay defender Lightning prevented the elimination against Colorado Avalanche in Game 5, largely due to the heroic actions at the end of the match by Ondrej Palat.
Now the series returns to the home ice of the Bolts at Amalie Arena.
2 Related
Despite suffering its second loss in a potential clinch game in the series this postseason, both of which ended up at home in Game 5s, Colorado continues to control the series with a 3-2 lead.
The story is on Avalanche’s side, as the teams that had a 3-1 lead in the best of the seven Stanley Cup finals are 35-1 for all time.
Beyond the ice, Tampa Bay is no stranger to playing with its back to the wall. The team has been 4-0 in potential elimination matches over the last three postseason seasons, including 3-0 in the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Lightning still have a bit of a steep climb to climb as they strive to join the Maple Leafs of 1942 as the only teams to clear the 3-1 Serie Cup deficit in the Stanley Cup final.
Here are the best views and sounds from Sunday night in the potential game 6, which can conquer the series.
Avs lead in two periods
Nathan McKinnon is officially the leading scorer in the NHL playoffs.
The Colorado star striker tied the game with his second mark in the Cup final (and the first not outside his own skate) and the 13th of the postseason to overtake Evander Kane at the top of the playoffs.
It was also McKinnon’s 41st goal in the playoffs, the biggest goal for an Avalanche player in the first 30 games of the season in his career.
Boy, did Avalanche need McKinnon to go. Anthony Sirelli’s line with Brandon Heigl and Alex Killorn did a great job, limiting his chances. Until Miko Rantanen made a power play kick from MacKinnon’s boot in Game 4, MacKinnon had only a pair of assists in the series.
Although MacKinnon promised not to let the disappointment boil over, it was clear earlier in the first period (through a few slams on the bench door) that he was starting to lose this battle. MacKinnon has great speed, but has been repeatedly blocked by Lightning’s stifling defense and aggressive stick-checks.
Colorado already knows full well that Tampa Bay will not stop coming. The resurrected McKinnon gives the Avalanche arguably their best chance of winning. “Kristen Shilton.”
Lightning look for a great third period
Another match, another goal by Avalanche, which the Lightning bench dealt with.
Nathan McKinnon’s goal in 1:54 of the second period, which equalized game 6 for Avalanche, came after a deferred penalty for Lightning. The Tampa Bay bench thought striker Nick Paul had the puck in front of goalkeeper Andrei Vassilevski. There are no complaints here – Paul definitely did. The problem is that the puck was out of his wand when the central ice referee raised his hand. Avalanche kept him in the zone and eventually McKinnon scored to bring them back into the game.
“We were thinking about the deferred penalty [Paul] jumped out with the puck. We think it should have been blown up, but it wasn’t. That was our opinion, but it’s online, so it doesn’t matter anymore, “said Lightning coach John Cooper on ABC.
What matters is that Lightning after 2-1 heads to the third period. Avalanche are 9-1 in the playoffs when they lead after two periods and were 39-1-3 in the regular season. The Lightning had a respectable 6-17-2 when they fell behind after two in the regular season and 2-5 this postseason. “Greg Wiszynski.”
Oh, Lehi
A good stick? Good stick. Arthur Lekonen gave Avs the first lead in match 6 after a rebound.
Lekonen gives @Avalanche their first lead in Game 6! #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/tfj0SSUQH7
– NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) June 27, 2022
Absolutely erupted here at @BallArenaDenver❣️ # GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/acOJDkMzZ0
– Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 27, 2022
We have a draw
And that’s right, we’re all in game 6 after Nathan MacKinnon found the net for Avs less than two minutes after the second period. McKinnon’s 13 goals this postseason are tied for the second time in the history of the Avalanche playoffs.
Way to get started, Nate 👊 # GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/iN3fBYJAwF
– Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 27, 2022
The MacKinnons 🥹 # GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/7lDDM0a87j
– Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 27, 2022
One period below for Lightning
It’s amazing how Tampa Bay Lightning turned their fortunes around at the beginning of the games. The first two in Denver were a room of horrors: wrong games, bad penalties and a headless deficit in both losses. The Lightning swore, if their starts were better, they were confident in their “recipe” for victory over Avalanche. They have since proved themselves right.
Game 6 is the third consecutive game in which the Lightning scored the first goal and the fourth consecutive game in which they lead after the first period. It was Avalanche who took a bad penalty just 23 seconds into the game. It was Avalanche who saw Lightning play the game for the first 10 minutes and then had to chase the game.
Gaining the lead was something Colorado coach Jared Bednar had hoped for before Game 6.
“It would be nice to take the lead. We obviously had success in this series when we jumped to a good lead. I think it just gives them confidence with their goalkeeper, their defensive structure being able to try to lock things up a little bit more without having to push to score, “he said. The lead is big and I think the start the match tonight will be really important.
That it was … except in favor of Lightning. The question is whether they will regret not doubling their lead, given how active they were in attack in the first 10 minutes. “Greg Wiszynski.”
… and the Avalanche
What was Cale McCarthy thinking?
The current trophy winner Norris executed a penalty 23 seconds after game 6, just as Colorado came out with good pressure in the offensive zone to start the evening.
On the whole, the cold-blooded defender looked embarrassed, heading for the penalty area, and perhaps rightly so. Giving Tampa Bay momentum by jumping into the building facing elimination was the exact opposite of what Although he would have hoped to do. Although Lightning failed to score in the power match, he still put the Avalanche stars on the bench and Tampa Bay in attack.
And not long after the teams returned to balance, Stephen Stamkos scored the starting marker in the match. Again, you don’t want to let the Lightning move.
Then later in the period, while Colorado was trying to keep the exhausted Lightning group in its own zone, Makar collided with the puck so much that the Avalanche were sent off. Another unusual play.
These little moments come together so late in the series. The results are in first place for Colorado since Andrei Vassilevsky settled in Game 3. The free amount of all kinds is a catnip for Tampa Bay and will not pull Avalanche out of Florida with the Stanley Cup. “Kristen Shilton.”
First lightning strike
Tampa Bay wasted no time finding the back of the home ice net. The Lightning were first on the board for the third consecutive game thanks to captain Stephen Stamkos.
pic.twitter.com/1NBPNcCLMg https://t.co/uVVNOlgFyg
– Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) June 27, 2022
A bold move
Never let it be said that this Avalanche fan is not engaged. Entering an arena shaking the opponent’s jersey? A little risky. Do you enter wrapped in a cloak made of the champion’s flag of the opposing team? Quite boldly.
I have to respect the @Avalanche banner that holds it down in game 6. pic.twitter.com/EzT2XNAjX2
– Greg Wiszynski (@wyshynski) June 26, 2022
Back to Tampa Bay
Lightning have a tough task ahead of them, but if this hype video – and their perfect record in elimination games over the last three postseason – is a sign, they’re ready for the challenge.
One shift at a time. ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/9xWFfR5B0Y
– Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) June 26, 2022
Add Comment