9
0
Vasilevskiy and the Lightning manufacture a 2-0 series lead.
MTL-1
TB-3
Tampa Bay Leads the Series 2-0
Andrei Vasilevskiy allowed one goal on 43 shots for the victory. He didn’t run away from the media trying to cast this series as a showdown between him and future HOF’er Carey Price, and tonight he got the better of his elder. He was absolutely the margin of victory tonight.
First Period
NO SCORING
Second Period
6:40 TB Cirelli (5), (Johnson, Rutta)
10:36 MTL Suzuki (6), (unassisted)(PP)
19:58 TB Coleman (2), (Goodrow, McDonagh)
Third Period
15:42 TB Palat (5), (unassisted)
Vasilevskiy, Blake Coleman, and Anthony Cirelli were the game’s three stars.
Just a really awkwardly bad and disjointed effort from the Lightning tonight and they still found a way to win tonight thanks largely to Vasilevskiy. Montreal made some adjustments that made it easier for them to get out of their own zone on breakouts, but I think the bigger problem tonight was that there was so much special teams in the First Period and an injury to Colton and I think it just scrambled the team’s rhythm completely. Passing wasn’t sharp, ergo puck management wasn’t good, and the Lightning ended up getting outshot 43-23 in the game. But, they got a howler of a goal on the Cirelli point shot, a late turnover in the Second Period that yielded a 2-on-1 that Coleman dove to finish off, and then a Third Period insurance goal gift on a miscommunication behind Montreal’s net by their defense. Really, I think the third line was the only line that had any kind of decent night, but it was enough.
Montreal really falls behind the eight ball now. They squandered a very good shot at getting a split tonight and now they need to win four of the next five if they want to win the Stanley Cup. I do not expect a flat effort from the Lightning in Game Three now as they have to know they got away with Vasilarceny tonight. Two wins away from completing the mission.
Ross Colton had 1 shot and 3 hits in 6:51. Got nicked up, and I think that and Killorn being out and all the early special teams play really scrambled up the Lightning’s rhythm.
Box score and extended statistics from NHL.com.
