Expertise is a useful ally within the Stanley Cup playoffs.
There’s little the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning have not encountered throughout deep postseason runs 5 of the previous seven years. The New York Islanders have not achieved as a lot however have progressed sufficient in three seasons beneath Barry Trotz to not really feel like heavy underdogs within the Stanley Cup semifinals.
“We consider we’re a very good crew. We anticipated to be right here. We knew it wasn’t going to be simple … however coming into the season, we anticipated to be right here,” New York’s Matt Martin mentioned. “We’re proud and pleased with what we have achieved so far, however the job continues to be not achieved and we have now our sights set on going all the way in which.”
The opener Sunday is a best-of-7 rematch of the 2020 Japanese Convention ultimate, which was performed within the NHL bubble in Edmonton, Alberta, and received by Tampa Bay in six video games.
“Whether or not we performed one another final week, or final month, or three months in the past, it does not actually matter. We all know what to anticipate from them, they usually know what to anticipate from us,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper mentioned.
“They’ve a bevy of expertise there, they usually have a coach that pushes all of them in the precise route. That is why they’re good,” Cooper added. “There needs to be no shock the Islanders are the place they’re.”
Or that Tampa Bay is within the NHL’s ultimate 4 for a fifth time in seven seasons. The Lightning have received a franchise-best six consecutive playoff sequence since being swept within the first spherical by Columbus two years in the past.
Brayden Level (8-4—12 in 11 GP) has scored a objective in every of his final three contests, together with the sequence clincher in Recreation 5. Will he maintain his streak going within the <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/StanleyCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>#StanleyCup</a> Semifinals? <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLStats?src=hash&ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>#NHLStats</a><br><br>📺: Recreation 1 is on Sunday, June 13 at 3 p.m. ET (NBC, SN, TVAS, CBC) <a href=”https://t.co/kKkjTjt62i”>pic.twitter.com/kKkjTjt62i</a>
—@PR_NHL
Nikita Kucherov is displaying why he is one of many league’s greatest gamers with 18 factors in 11 video games after lacking the complete common season whereas recovering from hip surgical procedure.
Braden Level and Steven Stamkos are lighting up the scoreboard within the playoffs as properly, and Vezina Trophy finalist Andrei Vasilevskiy is anchoring a stingy protection that gave Florida and Carolina matches within the first two rounds.
“We have not performed them, but when there is a crew that we have performed most up-to-date that we have not performed in our division it might be them, which helps slightly bit,” mentioned Trotz, who’s in his third season as coach of the Islanders.
“It will be a battle of a sequence, similar to it was within the bubble. We’re trying ahead to the problem,” New York’s Mathew Barzal mentioned.
The Islanders, who’ve made the playoffs every of their three seasons beneath Trotz, eradicated Pittsburgh and Boston within the first two rounds.
“Lots of similarities on their finish and the identical with us,” Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman mentioned.
“They’re a fantastic crew, play with lots of pace, acquired some bodily `D’ that may skate and good goaltending,” Hedman added. “When it comes right down to 4 groups left, it is the perfect of the perfect which are nonetheless right here.”
The Lightning are beginning a sequence at house for the primary time this postseason. They received Video games 1 and a couple of on the highway every of the earlier two rounds, towards the Panthers and Hurricanes. They’re 3-2 at Amalie Area in comparison with 5-1 away from house.
New York’s lockdown defence
The Islanders are the league’s most bodily crew with 4 gamers — Clutterbuck, Martin, Komarov and Pulock — within the high seven for hits. The Islanders did a masterful job shutting down Penguins stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jake Guenztel, limiting them to 3 targets and 6 assists within the first spherical.
They weren’t as profitable towards Boston’s Perfection Line, as Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron mixed for 10 targets and 12 assists within the second-round sequence. Nonetheless, New York held the remainder of the Bruins to only seven targets.
They’re going to have their work minimize out for them towards Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Level and Victor Hedman, who mixed for 9 targets, 14 assists in final yr’s Japanese Convention finals, which Steven Stamkos missed.
Between the pipes
After a powerful common season, Semyon Varlamov discovered himself on the bench whereas rookie Ilya Sorokin was shining within the first spherical.
When Sorokin misplaced the sequence opener towards Boston within the second spherical, New York coach Barry Trotz turned again to Varlamov and the veteran has been stellar since. He led the Islanders to a sequence win whereas giving up 12 targets in 5 video games, posting a 2.26 goals-against common and .934 save-percentage.
WATCH | Canadiens proceed unbelievable playoff run:
Rob Pizzo breaks down the crew’s surprising run to the ultimate 4. 4:59
