2022 Stanley Cup Closing – The 10 most pivotal gamers within the Colorado Avalanche vs. Tampa Bay Lightning collection

The Stanley Cup Closing is set by greater than star gamers. It is also about star turns. Those we count on, and sometimes those we do not.

The Tampa Bay Lightning know that higher than anybody. The 2-time defending Stanley Cup champions are again within the Closing for a 3rd straight season, going through a red-hot Colorado Avalanche crew that hasn’t appeared in a Closing since 2001.

Each side are stacked with big-name, big-time gamers who will play a vital function within the collection end result. There are additionally helpful secondary contributors in every lineup, the X issue guys who could lack for flash however have a key function in supporting what their crew does finest.

And naturally, there’s the goaltending.

Andrei Vasilevskiy is inarguably the most effective netminders on the earth and he’s arguably been Tampa’s (and maybe your complete NHL’s) MVP this postseason.

Colorado has leaned on its depth in web, succeeding in entrance of starter Darcy Kuemper and backup Pavel Francouz. Kuemper suffered an upper-body damage within the Avalanche’s Western Convention finals collection towards Edmonton, however says he is 100% wholesome once more. Francouz was wonderful in Colorado’s sweep of the Oilers although, with a .908 SV% and a pair of.81 GAA (together with one shutout).

Kuemper returned to backup Francouz in Sport Four of that convention finals; whom Colorado faucets for the Sport 1 begin towards Tampa Bay (eight p.m. ET Wednesday, ABC and ESPN+) stays to be seen.

We all know the goaltenders. We all know the celebrities. We’ll discover a couple of different necessary gamers who will finally assist determine who’s hoisting Lord Stanley’s chalice — and who would possibly go house upset.

It isn’t about what Cirelli places on the scoresheet. It is how he retains different gamers off it.

Cirelli has only one objective and 5 assists within the postseason, however he is dominated because the Lightning’s prime shutdown middle. His line with Brandon Hagel and Alex Killorn was a significant challenge for New York within the Japanese Convention finals, limiting possibilities for Mika Zibanejad‘s unit and usually irritating each ahead it was up towards.

Even Rangers coach Gerard Gallant turned aggravated with questions on Zibanejad’s lack of manufacturing towards Cirelli’s forceful checking line. Cirelli’s work ethic was merely no match for New York’s finest offensive turbines, and that is what is going to make him so necessary — and harmful — within the Cup Closing.

Colorado has its personal steady of prime producers and are a deeper crew offensively than the Rangers. That can require elevated effort from Cirelli in no matter matchup he will get to not enable the Avalanche gamebreakers to get rolling.

It has been powerful on Tampa Bay not having Brayden Point accessible since Sport 7 of its first-round collection towards Toronto. Cirelli is a kind of gamers who has stepped up. He hasn’t been excellent — successful key faceoffs will proceed to be a degree of emphasis — however Cirelli may be trusted anyplace on the ice and will not be intimidated by any skater throughout from him.

---

There’s a Nazem Kadri-sized gap in Colorado’s ranks. Compher can be relied upon to assist fill it.

Kadri’s availability for the Cup Closing stays unsure. The middle had surgical procedure final week on a damaged thumb suffered when Evander Kane boarded him in Sport Three of the Western Convention finals. There’s an opportunity Kadri may very well be again in some unspecified time in the future within the Cup Closing, however that is hardly assured. Andrew Cogliano additionally had an identical surgical procedure to Kadri’s, and his standing additional hampers Colorado’s depth upfront.

All that factors towards is a bigger function for Compher. The postseason began slowly for Compher, as he logged zero objectives and simply two assists in Colorado’s first 9 video games. Compher did not flip a nook till the Avalanche’s second-round collection towards St. Louis. There, he lit the lamp twice in Colorado’s series-clinching Sport 6 victory. He has tallied 5 objectives in Colorado’s previous six video games (together with the sport winner towards Edmonton in Sport 3).

It isn’t the way you begin however the way you end. Colorado wants Compher to remain on monitor. His offensive surge will mitigate a few of what the Avalanche lose in Kadri’s absence, and Compher appears to acknowledge how he can enhance too. He advised reporters final week his sport has been too defensive, and it is about being aggressive on the forecheck that is he is producing extra alternatives.

All of Colorado must channel that mindset into attacking Tampa Bay’s prime abilities. Compher can be counted on to cleared the path.

---

Right here now we have the quintessential playoff X issue.

Johnson is Colorado’s longest-tenured participant, going again to the 2010-11 season. He is seen some issues with the Avalanche, and most of it wasn’t fairly. There’s been disappointment, underachievement, sweeping highs and grounding lows. And never only for the crew. Johnson has struggled lately too, lacking all however 4 video games in 2020-21 due to a concussion. His enjoying days may have been over.

Now, at 34 years previous, Johnson is a key cog within the Colorado machine that is reached a Cup Closing. This chance will convey out the most effective in him.

The veteran has been paired this season with 20-year-old Bowen Byram, and collectively their postseason performances have been notably robust. The Avs have about double the scoring possibilities in comparison with opponents when the pair is on the ice. Additionally they personal the second-highest objective share of any defensive pairing within the postseason.

Johnson scored a vital objective for the Avalanche in Sport Four towards St. Louis. Coach Jared Bednar stated after that collection these could be Johnson’s strongest performances since he arrived behind the bench in 2016.

Being a vocal chief is one other of Johnson’s extra intangible attributes. He not solely helps anchor the blue line however is a steadying presence on a comparatively younger crew with sparser postseason expertise than the Lightning. When the puck drops on this Closing, depend on Johnson to provide every thing he has to Colorado’s trigger.

---

The versatile Lehkonen was an ideal commerce deadline addition by Colorado GM Joe Sakic. This postseason has solely highlighted how seamlessly Lehkonen has match into the Avalanche’s system.

Lehkonen has constructed his status on a high-end defensive talent set that permits him to play in any state of affairs. Within the playoffs particularly, he is carved out a extra offensive function as a second-line skater first with Mikko Rantanen and Kadri after which Andre Burakovsky following Kadri’s damage.

By three rounds, Lehkonen leads the Avalanche with three game-winning objectives — and none had been larger than his time beyond regulation tally in Sport Four towards Edmonton that despatched Colorado to the Cup Closing. Lehkonen has additionally been filling in for Kadri on Colorado’s prime power-play unit, which went 2-for-2 in Sport 4. Coincidence? Perhaps not. Lehkonen can elevate gamers round him like that. It is a part of what makes him so particular.

There’s a lot to love about Lehkonen as a high-character piece of Colorado’s lineup. And this would be the second consecutive 12 months Lehkonen has performed in a Cup Closing. That have is invaluable contemplating many of the Avalanche have not superior this far earlier than.

---

We’re not speaking about all of the top-tier gamers on this collection. A number of are merely unavoidable, although.

This can be a monumental second for MacKinnon. That Western Convention finals matchup towards Connor McDavid had extra hype than warmth. The Cup Closing is one other beast completely, particularly when it options the likes of, oh, Nikita Kucherov for instance? Speak about spicy. And MacKinnon can be motivated to indicate out as soon as once more.

The highest-flight ahead has 11 objectives and 18 factors in 14 video games to this point. MacKinnon has proved he can dominate by himself (see: coast-to-coast goal-scoring means in Sport 5 towards St. Louis). He can produce within the clutch (see: the game-tying objective in Sport Four towards Edmonton). Crucially although, MacKinnon has improved his defensive habits within the postseason.

Whatever the opponent, MacKinnon is prioritizing particulars in his personal finish to make good passes, escape rapidly and restrict the opposite crew’s cycle sport. The Avalanche will search for extra of that from him within the Cup Closing. As a result of when a participant like MacKinnon is dialed in on protection, it rubs off on everybody else.

And naturally, MacKinnon goes to attain objectives. Whether or not it is a couple of or many, a lot of Colorado’s offense flows by means of its finest gamers. The X issue with MacKinnon is his all-around experience. He is no one-note marvel.

---

Sure, it is one other Avalanche star on the record. Like MacKinnon, Makar’s significance to Colorado is tough to overstate. And Makar isn’t just an X issue, he’s the issue. As in, he components into nearly every thing the Avalanche do.

The 23-year-old has logged over 27 minutes per sport within the postseason. He is on the market at 5-on-5, on the facility play and penalty kill. Makar is an elite defensive presence in all conditions, irrespective of the rating or situation. Oh, and he is scored 5 objectives and recorded 22 factors in 14 video games. The totality of Makar’s means is why he is so usually in comparison with Bobby Orr. It is uncommon for any skater to have Makar-level affect at each ends of the ice. But, he does so persistently.

Makar will definitely be a handful for the Lightning, and vice versa. Tampa is the most effective crew Colorado has seen up to now. They Avalanche are deep, proficient and skilled. Makar has created numerous house for himself and his teammates within the playoffs; the Lightning usually tend to restrict that benefit. It will likely be on Makar to raise as soon as extra. Protecting the puck away from Tampa Bay’s prime producers and within the Avalanche’s arms can be paramount.

Actually although, when a participant does as a lot as Makar, each shift he takes may very well be a possible swing in Colorado’s favor.

---

Tampa Bay needed to go about 13 minutes with out McDonagh in Sport 5 towards New York after the veteran defender left with an damage.

When he got here again, it was with about 5 minutes to play in regulation. The Lightning gamers stated they felt a lift from McDonagh’s return — and it was proper after that return that the Lightning rallied to attain the game-winning objective.

McDonagh may have sat out these previous few minutes within the dressing room. He may have saved himself for the following sport. That is not what McDonagh does. Lightning coach Jon Cooper calls him the crew’s “warrior.” Encapsulating McDonagh’s significance cannot be quantified or certified on numbers alone.

It is all of the little — and not-so-little — issues McDonagh brings which is able to create potential havoc for Colorado. McDonagh is a shot-blocking machine (averaging 7.44 blocks per 60 minutes) and a bodily power (registering 4.22 hits per sport) that is earned him accolades as a man who by no means quits on his crew. McDonagh has generated solely 4 factors within the postseason — one objective and three assists — however that hardly expresses his true worth.

When Tampa Bay takes on Colorado, will probably be going through a generational defensive expertise in Makar. However do not sleep on what gamers like McDonagh — and Johnson, for that matter — add to the combo. Once you least count on it, one shift by McDonagh may flip the tide.

---

As Lehkonen is to the Avs, so is Palat to the Lightning.

He too is drawn to scoring a dramatic, game-winning objective. And the Lightning would not be the place they’re with out him.

Palat lifted Tampa Bay to its first win within the convention finals when he scored the go-ahead objective with 41.6 seconds remaining in regulation. It was a series-shifting rating, giving the Lightning momentum they’d by no means relinquish. Palat wasn’t finished there, both. He scored the sport winner in Sport 5, with only one:50 remaining in regulation.

Principally, if anybody’s going to place a dagger in Colorado, it is prone to be Palat.

His heroics to this point have made Palat the primary participant in NHL historical past to attain game-winning objectives within the remaining two minutes of a number of video games in a single postseason. Not a nasty distinction to carry.

There’s extra to Palat than simply well timed objective scoring, after all. He is averaging almost a point-per-game tempo within the postseason and skates almost 17 minutes per contest. Palat’s been wonderful at even energy as effectively, and leads the Lightning in capturing proportion. He’s as well-rounded a ahead as Colorado will see on this collection. If Palat stays sizzling, he may very well be a real difference-maker.

---

To understand Sergachev’s means to tilt the ice, look no additional than Sport 5 towards New York.

Tampa Bay was trailing 1-Zero within the second interval, till Sergachev delivered his first objective of the postseason at a pivotal juncture for the Lightning. They might go into the third tied at 1-1, and it was Sergachev’s level blast that Palat tipped previous Igor Shesterkin to provide his crew a vital win.

We may wax poetic all day about Victor Hedman, and he would deserve it. Hedman has proved his game-changing worth again and again, and he may very well be a key contributor on this Closing.

Sergachev is extra just like the Lightning’s sneak assault. He slithers into the play and makes issues occur. Tampa Bay wasn’t enjoying effectively early in Sport 5. The crew wanted, effectively, an X issue to bust it out of a mini-slump. That is what Sergachev gives. He could not do it each night time, however he is received game-changing capabilities.

It will be simple to take a look at this Cup Closing from an offensive perspective and discuss concerning the goal-scoring potential. However there is a deep vein of defensive expertise working by means of right here as effectively. Sergachev performs over 21 minutes per sport, with appearances on each particular groups models. The extra confidence Sergachev has gained on this postseason, the extra apt Cooper has been to place him on the market in vital moments. And when McDonagh exited in Sport 5, Sergachev proved why he is earned extra accountability by hanging in with Hedman and having the Lightning not miss a beat.

Sergachev can be enjoying with confidence going into the Cup Closing. That may very well be spell hassle for the Avalanche.

---

There was an enormous reunion for the Lighting towards the Rangers, and Stamkos was (actually) on the middle of it.

After Tampa Bay fell behind 2-0, Cooper put his captain again on a line with Kucherov and Palat. The outcomes had been fast, and pivotal.

It isn’t a unit Cooper has deployed usually. Stamkos centered that trio sparingly within the common season and through that first spherical collection towards Toronto. Coming collectively once more gave the Lightning a lift, and Stamkos seemed notably good. He registered three factors in Tampa’s subsequent three video games, was wonderful in all three zones and even dropped the gloves with Alexis Lafreniere on the finish of Sport 5. It felt like a complete new aspect of Stamkos was rising.

Stamkos has been good for the Lightning all through these playoffs. And clearly he is one in every of their stars — simply not in the identical approach Kucherov is. Stamkos is like an embodiment of all of the expertise Tampa Bay has earned over the previous few years. He is strategic. He is even-keeled. He trusts in a talent set barely diminished by age and is aware of the way to get probably the most out of himself and his teammates.

All these components come collectively and make Stamkos the participant who would possibly lie within the weeds for a interval or two after which come by means of with a intestine punch to shift the ice for Tampa. That is what the Lightning will want on this Cup Closing. Stamkos will not be an surprising contributor, however he can be opportunistic. The best way he conducts himself may very well be a defining affect in Tampa’s attainable success.