The Tampa Bay Lightning are two wins away from winning their second Stanley Cup in nine months. But the series shifts back to Montreal, where the Canadiens will have the home crowd behind them to help claw back in.
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Friday’s game
Game 3: Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens | 8 p.m. (Lightning lead 2-0)
The Canadiens got out-classed by Tampa Bay in Game 1. In Game 2, Montreal made adjustments and dominated play for long stretches; that resulted in a 43-23 edge in shots on goal. However, the Lightning snuck away with the win, thanks in large part to Blake Coleman‘s diving goal in the waning seconds of the second period.
It’s crushing to lose a game you know you should have won, but the Canadiens now get to return to the Bell Centre. Perhaps more important is getting Tampa Bay away from Amalie Arena, where the Lightning were riding a five-game home winning streak (and in that home winning streak, Andrei Vasilevskiy posted a .969 save percentage).
Tonight’s game marks the return of Dominique Ducharme on the Habs bench for the first time since Game 2 against the Vegas Golden Knights. Ducharme finished his 14-day quarantine after testing positive for COVID following his team’s first trip to Vegas. Meanwhile, Lightning veteran forward Alex Killorn made the trip to Montreal after missing Game 2, but we don’t know about his status for this game. Coach Jon Cooper previously called Killorn “day-to-day for the rest of the series.”
Three players to watch in Game 3
Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, Tampa Bay Lightning
The 26-year-old is coming off a playoff career-best, 42-save performance in Game 2, and has now won 10 straight games against the Canadiens. He’s also allowed only 22 total goals in his last 15 games. In the playoffs, Vasilevskiy’s goals saved above average is a whopping 12.38. For context, Carey Price — who has also been excellent this postseason — has a GSAA of 4.13.
Nick Suzuki, C, Montreal Canadiens
After the scoring line of Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Tyler Toffoli got roughed up by Tampa in Game 1 (they were on the ice for three Lightning goals), they responded back in a big way. Suzuki, specifically, was a dynamic force generating offense, posting nine shots on goal in the game.
Mikhail Sergachev, D, Tampa Bay Lightning
The defensemen has had no problem exerting his physicality in this series, leaving Brendan Gallagher bloodied after a tussle in Game 1, then sending Artturi Lehkonen to the dressing room after sending the forward into the boards in what looked like a dangerous play in Game 2:
📦PENALTY: #GoBolts‘ Sergachev is off for interference on #GoHabsGo‘s Lehkonen. 9:57 remains in the second period. pic.twitter.com/FJU5XX45SR
— 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚒 𝙵𝚊𝚒𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚘 (@faiello_mari) July 1, 2021
Interim Habs coach Luke Richardson didn’t stoke the fire after the game, saying: “Yeah, it was a penalty. They called it. I don’t think it was anything more than that.”
Quote of the day
“Being a Canadian — I know I grew up on the other coast — but back then, I’m not going to date myself, but basically the only two teams on in Hockey Night in Canada were the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens. And back then, it felt like there were only two sets of fans. You cheered for one and hated the other. I lived for Saturday nights, regardless of who was playing. … It’s like a ‘pinch yourself’ moment that you have an opportunity to coach in that building and be a part of that environment of how much history and memories and books have been written about that franchise. So I know the people in there won’t be cheering for us, but I’m sure excited to be a part of it.”
— Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper on what it means to him, personally, to play playoff games at the Bell Centre
Question of the day
How much of an advantage will the Canadiens get at home? The Quebec health authorities denied the team’s request to increase capacity from 3,500 for Games 3 and 4 (they were looking for 10,500 fans, which is roughly 50% capacity). P.K. Subban explained on the ESPN Daily podcast this week why the crowd in Montreal matters.
“I don’t think think there’s ever been a game, in the history of my time at Montreal, where I didn’t have my legs under me at the Bell Centre, and a lot of that has to do with the energy in the building,” Subban said. “Would that make a difference to players? I’m sure it would.”
The Habs do, however, get the benefit of last line change — which could be crucial. At home, the Lightning purposely kept their top line featuring Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point away from Montreal’s defensive shutdown line, which is centered by Phillip Danault. Kucherov feasted off favorable matchups in Game 1. The Canadiens were still able to keep Kucherov off the scoresheet in Game 2, and it’s likely they’ll try to get Danault on his line as much as possible. That could frustrate the Lightning’s most skilled players — just as it frustrated Mark Stone and Vegas’ top line in the Stanley Cup semifinals.
Fits of the day
Hey, Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin isn’t the only one in this series who can pull off a colorful suit. Brayden Point & Co. have entered the chat:
We’re coming for ya, Montreal 🛫 pic.twitter.com/EyaTm0wjiS
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) July 1, 2021