MONTREAL — Tyler Johnson and the quick-strike Tampa Bay Lightning moved a victory away from efficiently defending their title, beating the Montreal Canadiens 6-3 on Friday night time in Sport 3 of the Stanley Cup Remaining.
The Lightning caught the Canadiens flat-footed by scoring twice within the opening minutes of every of the primary two durations to take a 3-0 sequence lead. Sport 4 is Monday night time in Montreal.
Tampa Bay is in place to hitch Pittsburgh (2016 and ’17) in turning into the second staff to win consecutive titles since 1999. The Lightning even have a chance to finish the primary sweep within the closing since Detroit beat Washington in 1998.
“The Stanley Cup is sufficient motivation for us as hockey gamers,” defenseman Victor Hedman mentioned concerning the alternative to turn out to be the second repeat champions since 1999.
“Clearly, what we did within the bubble final yr was very particular, and also you need to relive that second, however on the finish of the day, we’re not there but,” he added, referring to the Lightning beating Dallas in six video games final yr within the closing performed in Edmonton, Alberta. “We’re not glad till it’s achieved.”
Johnson scored twice and Hedman and Nikita Kurcherov every had a aim and help. Jan Rutta and Blake Coleman, with an empty-netter, additionally scored for the Lightning, who additionally gained the Cup in 2004. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 31 photographs
Vasilevskiy inexplicably whiffed in permitting Nick Suzuki’s shot from the correct circle beat him by the legs to chop Tampa Bay’s result in 4-2 with 1:56 left within the second interval. The goalie responded by stopping the primary eight photographs he confronted within the third interval, together with Joel Armia from in shut, earlier than Johnson scored his second aim to place the Lightning up 5-2 with 4:41 left.
The sport was the NHL’s first performed within the month of July, a yr after enjoying its first video games in August.
Taking part in the primary Stanley Cup Remaining since their championship-winning 4-1 victory over the Wayne Gretzky-led Los Angeles Kings in Sport 5 on the Montreal Discussion board on June 9, 1993, did little to spark the Canadiens. Neither did the return of interim coach Dominique Ducharme for the Canadiens, who had been outscored 8-2 in two video games at Tampa Bay.
Considered one of Ducharme’s first strikes was to spend Montreal’s solely timeout after the Lightning scored 1:35 aside to construct a 2-0 lead 3:27 in. Ducharme spent the previous two weeks in obligatory self-quarantine in Montreal after testing optimistic for COVID-19.
The Canadiens’ revered protection and Carey Value’s stellar goaltending that carried them to their shocking playoff run have confirmed no match for the Lightning.
“I can positively play higher. it’s simply not ok up to now,” mentioned Value, who gave up 5 objectives on 25 photographs.
He’s not the one one.
Down 2-1 after one interval, Montreal unraveled to open the second interval.
Defenseman Erik Cernak caught the Canadiens sleeping on a line change to arrange Kucherov scoring on a 2-on-0 break 1:40 into the interval. From deep in his personal zone, Cernak despatched a go meant for Ondrej Palat at Montreal’s blue line. Palat chased down the puck on the left circle and fed Kucherov, who flipped it within the open proper aspect.
Johnson scored 1:53 afterward a 2-on-1 break and after Value bought his blocker as much as cease Mathieu Joseph’s shot from the left circle. The rebound caromed off Joseph’s skate and on to Johnson who backhanded it into the open proper aspect.
The Lightning have scored the opening aim in all three video games and have but to path within the sequence.
“We’ve a recreation plan, proper?” Kucherov mentioned. “Everyone’s shopping for in and everyone’s doing their job. And when everyone’s doing their job it makes it simpler and all of us play a full 60 minutes the correct means.”
Phillip Danault and Corey Perry additionally scored for a Montreal staff that felt disrespected in making its deepest playoff run since successful its twenty fourth Cup. The Canadiens entered the postseason with the worst report of the NHL’s 16 qualifiers earlier than rallying from a 3-1 first-round sequence deficit towards Toronto, sweeping Winnipeg within the second spherical after which eliminating Vegas in a six-game semifinals sequence.
“We don’t have a selection,” Value mentioned. “We’ve overcome adversity all season lengthy, and our backs are clearly towards the wall, so we’ll have to start out bringing our greatest.”
In NHL playoff historical past, solely 4 groups have rallied to win a sequence after shedding the primary three video games, with Toronto the one one to take action within the closing in beating Detroit to win the Cup in 1942. The Los Angeles Kings had been the final staff to beat a 3-0 sequence deficit by beating San Jose in a 2014 first-round sequence.
