How the Rangers Exposed a Possible Weakness in Andrei Vasilevskiy's Game
Jun 3, 2022
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 01: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning gives up a goal to Frank Vatrano (not pictured) #77 of the New York Rangers during the second period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on June 01, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Have the New York Rangers found a way to beat Andrei Vasilevskiy?
Ask a room full of players, scouts, media and fans to name the best goaltender, and the majority may very well answer with Tampa Bay’s starting goaltender. The 27-year-old Russian is a four-time All-Star, the 2019 Vezina Trophy winner and the 2021 Conn Smythe winner.
He had just dominated in a sweep against the Florida Panthers, who led the league in goals. Then the Rangers picked him apart in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final with a commanding 6-2 win Wednesday.
New York's goaltender, Igor Shesterkin, certainly played a major role in the lopsided score, while the Lightning skaters made mistakes and looked overwhelmed for certain shifts.
But Vasilevskiy looked shockingly average, and that may even be generous. Clear Sight Analytics reported that the Rangers’ shots resulted in 2.97 expected goals, or three fewer than Vasilevskiy allowed.
Every player has bad nights. Henrik Lundqvist gave up six goals on five different occasions during his playoff career. It happens. Vasilevskiy is a top goaltender with playoff experience beyond his years. He won’t be rattled and will almost certainly perform better for the remainder of the series.
What stood out, though, was not merely that the Rangers beat him six times, but how they did it. Four of the six goals were elevated shots toward Vasilevskiy’s blocker side. A couple of them were the result of the natural game flow. Goals by Chris Kreider and Artemi Panarin came from the lateral right-to-left passes. That meant the blocker side of the net was gaping as Vasilevskiy needed to move across the crease. Filip Chytil scored twice while shooting toward Vasilevskiy’s glove side on similar plays.
Goals by Mika Zibanejad and Frank Vatrano told different stories.
Shooting blocker side on both of these occasions was an active choice. Zibanejad’s goal was hardly a blunder on Vasilevskiy’s part, but it’s one he probably thinks he could save. Though it’s an admirable rip by Vatrano, his goal is the one Vasilevskiy almost certainly wants back.
Wrist shots from distance with a partial screen at best are ones good goaltenders are expected to stop.
This is not an outlier in Vasilevskiy’s game. As goaltending analyst Mike McKenna pointed out, the Tampa Bay netminder has struggled to make saves on his blocker side during his career. Via InStat, here are Vasilevskiy’s save percentages by shot location during the 2021-22 season.
It did not seem incidental that the Rangers beat him so often to his blocker side. Over the entire 60 minutes of Game 1, it appeared the Rangers were actively targeting Vasilevskiy’s blocker side.
InStat’s data backs this up. Of the Rangers’ 26 tracked shots on goal, nine were shot either mid- or high blocker, and there were seven toward the blocker-side leg pad. That’s a stark contrast with just three elevated shots on the glove side. What’s more, all six of their shots from defensemen were sent blocker side, with only one shot by Adam Fox from anywhere closer than the point.
This is not in line with the Rangers’ typical tendencies. Over the 82-game season plus two playoff rounds, the team’s shooting preferences were fairly even, with a slight majority toward the glove side.
It could be a coincidence, but it sure doesn’t look like one. That the Lightning completed the sweep of the Panthers on May 23 meant the Rangers knew well in advance who their conference final opponent would be should they move on.
That is a lot of time for the video and analytics teams to prescout the Lightning, Vasilevskiy included. If the players were indeed instructed to shoot blocker side in Game 1, then it worked.
What can the Lightning do about it?
On the penalty kill, probably not much. As Game 1 showed, Zibanejad can absolutely rip it from above the left faceoff circle. Fox and Panarin are wizards with the puck who put it right in his wheelhouse even when it seems impossible. The Rangers' power play is elite, and the Lightning may have to try to limit their penalties and otherwise take their lumps.
At even strength, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper will need to make adjustments. The Rangers shot frequently from the left side of the offensive zone, which naturally means more shots toward Vasilevskiy’s blocker side.
The Lightning will want to force the puck to the Rangers' right side of the ice. They may also be forced to concede the points more and get sticks in the middle of the ice to prevent the cross-slot seam passes that the Rangers executed with impunity in Game 1.
Ultimately, the Lightning will bank on better performances from their franchise goaltender. It’s unlikely New York will continue to score three more goals than expected against him. But Igor Shesterkin is in peak form for the Rangers.
The games will probably be much closer the rest of the way, but unless Shesterkin starts to slip, the Rangers’ relentless targeting of Vasilevskiy's blocker side could result in the two or three goals that decide the series.
Rangers' Kid Line Pierces Andrei Vasilevskiy's Invincibility in Game 1 Win
Jun 2, 2022
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 01: Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers celebrates after scoring a goal on Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on June 01, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK — The New York Rangers' third line has affectionately been nicknamed the "kid line" with the age of Alexis Lafreniere, Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko averaging out to just a little older than 20. So while we're in the business of giving out nicknames, let's attempt one for Chytil.
"Fearless Filip" seems appropriate given the way he's able to get to the middle of the ice and make teams pay for it. He continued his breakout Stanley Cup Playoff campaign on Wednesday night, scoring two goals in the Rangers' decisive 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final.
In what was billed as a goaltending duel with the two best in the game opposing one another on the Madison Square Garden ice, the Blueshirts had no problem getting through against the best in the world, Andrei Vasilevskiy. The Lightning netminder was coming off a dominant performance in the Bolts' previous series against the Panthers, surrendering just three goals in four games.
In Game 1, the youngsters, led by Chytil, made the 2019 Vezina Trophy winner look human.
Chytil has been on quite a heater since the playoffs began a month ago, with seven goals in 15 games after only scoring eight in the regular season. That third line has been extremely influential in getting the Rangers to the Conference Final and will be needed moving forward.
"We're young guys so we're not thinking too much about anything else," Chytil said. "We're just out there playing hard and working for a team. We want to help the team to win a game and always happy when we can."
Rangers fans were offering Chytil up in fantasy trade packages for J.T. Miller at the deadline. He was a healthy scratch late in the season, prompting coach Gerard Gallant to have a talk with him. The 22-year-old Czech center asked the coach what was needed from him, and Gallant said he needed another player in the Mika Zibanejad mold.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 01: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning gives up a goal to Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers (not pictured) as Kaapo Kakko #24 of the New York Rangers reacts during the second period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on June 01, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Whatever he said sure worked. Chytil has shown more confidence and poise with every game in the postseason. Only four skaters in Rangers history have recorded more postseason goals before age 23 than Chytil: Alex Kovalev (13), Ron Duguay (11), Don Maloney (eight) and Don Murdoch (eight).
"He's growing up to be a man," Gallant said. "He's 22 years old, he's confident with his game and he feels good about his game, and he always has, but now he's really stepping it up and every time you go out there and watch him play, he's more confident, he's strong on every puck, he's strong in the faceoff circle. He's just growing up."
And Chytil is doing all that along with his linemates, Lafreniere and Kakko. Chytil's first goal was assisted by both of his wingers, and the trio continues to provide a spark every time they touch the ice. Whether they're coming of age or just feeding off playoff adrenaline, there's no question the kids have significantly deepened what used to be an exceptionally top-heavy roster.
The Rangers received contributions from the usual suspects—Zibanejad, Chris Kreider and Artemi Panarin, and Frank Vatrano had a stellar game—but the back-to-back goals by Chytil and the play of goalie Igor Shesterkin were the main factors in the win.
With the game tied 2-2 in the second period, Kakko set up Chytil from behind the net. With Vasilevskiy keyed in on Kakko, Chytil was able to beat him high from the slot to break a 2-2 tie at 10:09 in the second.
He scored again a few minutes later. There was a period of 4:35 without any stoppages in play where the Rangers put some serious offensive pressure on the Lightning. Tampa Bay was trying to deploy its top line but only managed to get Steven Stamkos over the boards, so the rest of the second line was hemmed into the defensive zone for nearly 90 seconds. They were gassed.
K'Andre Miller, another member of the Rangers' young core, slid a cross-ice feed to Chytil in the right circle, and he hammered it past Vasilevskiy.
"They're a joy to watch," Panarin said through a translator. "To be honest, they're a huge part of the team and I can't wait for them to keep going."
The kids have allowed Gallant to effectively roll four lines. And according to him, we may not have even seen peak kid line just yet.
"It was close to their best, but it wasn't their best, for sure," Gallant said. "They got inside, they scored some nice goals and made some nice plays. They're a confident bunch of kids right now and we need that to continue."
The view from the other side
This was an uncharacteristic performance from a team that has become known for dominance in the postseason. Tampa Bay was missing a certain scoring element without forward Brayden Point, but on paper the Bolts were still the better team: They had more shot attempts in all situations and created more scoring chances.
However, the fancy stats and on-ice numbers take a backseat to results in the postseason. And after a nine-day layoff, the result was that the Tampa Bay skaters tired easily. Cooper didn't use that as an excuse, but it was mentioned by a handful of players.
That long shift in the second period wasn't the only time the Lightning were unable to get out of their own end, and they were clearly worn down by those extended outings.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 01: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal on Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on June 01, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Vasilevskiy allowed six goals, double than what he allowed in the entire last round against the Florida Panthers. Coach Jon Cooper didn't fault the 2021 Conn Smythe winner as much as he faulted the effort in front of him.
"This isn't on him at all," Cooper said. "Just the East-West, the quality scoring chances we gave up—you could have put both goalies in the net and they were still probably going in."
The Lightning will have to find a way to neutralize the Rangers' elite forward talent as this series continues, and try to find some way to contain Chytil.
"The Rangers have some dynamic players, and if you give them an inch they'll take a mile," Cooper said. "They did that tonight."
Filip Chytil's Playoff Dominance Praised as Rangers Beat Lightning in Game 1
Jun 2, 2022
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 01: Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers celebrates after scoring a goal on Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on June 01, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
The New York Rangers survived the Carolina Hurricanes to reach the Eastern Conference Final, and then they prevented the Tampa Bay Lightning from striking in Game 1 of the series at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, posting a 6-2 win.
It was a dominant performance from the Rangers, who never trailed thanks to goals from Chris Kreider, Frank Vatrano, Filip Chytil, Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad. In addition, New York received solid goaltending from Igor Shesterkin, who stopped 37 of 39 shots.
That said, Chytil drew the most attention after scoring the go-ahead goal in the second period to put the Blueshirts up 3-2 before adding another insurance tally entering the third period.
It's Filip Chytil's world and we're all just living in it. Chytil has two goals in the second period and five goals in his last three games.
Only four skaters in Rangers history have recorded more postseason goals before age 23 than Filip Chytil (7): Alex Kovalev (13), Ron Duguay (11), Don Maloney (8) and Don Murdoch (8).
Chytil scored just eight goals in 67 regular-season games and now has seven goals in 15 Stanley Cup playoff matchups. His presence alongside Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko has been huge for the Rangers.
While the Rangers dominated Game 1, it's hard to imagine the Lightning having a similarly depressing performance in Game 2. That said, Chytil will need to keep up the good work if the Blueshirts want to win this series.
Game 2 between the Rangers and Lightning is set for Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
Why It's So Hard for the NHL to Establish Clarity Around Goalie Interference
May 25, 2022
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 10: The puck goes in but Boston Bruins winger Nick Foligno (17) is called for interference on Carolina Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen (31) during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes on February 10, 2022 at TD garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Rule 69.1 in the official NHL rulebook, "Interference on the Goalkeeper," is one of the most difficult rules to understand and one of the most difficult to determine as an official.
It's 381 words, and that doesn't even include rules 69.2-69.8, which are supposed to provide clarity and context for every situation involving goalie's interference.
No wonder it seems like no one knows what the rule actually entails.
Each year, the Stanley Cup Playoffs cast a shadow on the officials who are tasked with determining what is and is not goalie interference. And it's not just the officials on the ice—fans might love to yell, "Ref, you suck!" but often times, it's the league officials in the situation room in Toronto making the final calls when a challenge is initiated for goalie interference.
Perhaps "official in the situation room in Toronto, you suck!" is too wordy of a chant. Fair enough.
We know that the NHL has been in the midst of an officiating crisis for a few years now, but this one set of standards, in particular, can have more of a direct effect on the outcome of games than maybe something like a missed crosscheck or an errant hook.
The New York Rangers might have won the first game of their opening-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins in regulation had a goal not been disallowed. Instead, they played a triple-overtime thriller, and backup goalie Louis Domingue stole the game for Pittsburgh.
Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour would have "bet [his] life" on Jake DeBrusk's goal in Game 4 of the series against the Boston Bruins being overturned, but the NHL said the incidental contact was allowable.
In Game 1 of the Lightning-Panthers series, Anthony Cirelli clipped Florida Panthers netminder Sergei Bobrovsky in the head, but the goal was upheld after review.
Cirelli made contact with Bobrovsky's head in the blue paint. Panthers challenged for goalie interference, but it was still ruled a good goal. pic.twitter.com/kVL3ILjZCL
Let's take a deeper look at the rule and the process in which goalie interference is determined to see if we can figure out why it's so difficult to properly assess.
What Is Goaltender Interference?
The rule was introduced for the 1991-92 season with a pretty simple philosophy: A penalty is issued when an attacking skater makes contact with the goaltender, impeding, limiting or altogether eliminating his ability to protect the net and stop the puck.
The rule has evolved as technology has evolved, and in 2015-16, coaches were allowed to challenge for goaltender interference. In 2018, the NHL announced that the situation room would have the final say in an attempt to have more consistent rulings.
Here is how the most crucial part of the rule reads this season:
Goals should be disallowed only if: (1) an attacking player, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeper’s ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal; or (2) an attacking player initiates intentional or deliberate contact with a goalkeeper, inside or outside of his goal crease. Incidental contact with a goalkeeper will be permitted, and resulting goals allowed, when such contact is initiated outside of the goal crease, provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such contact.
If you're having trouble following, it's a way to keep things fair for the goalies, who have more limited movement in their pads and are restricted to certain areas where they can and cannot play the puck. The onus is on the skater to prevent contact that would keep a goalie from being unable to protect the net.
Meanwhile, the challenge mechanism is in place to allow coaches to get a final ruling on the play by league using all available video feeds.
How Is Goalie Interference Determined?
Let's use the aforementioned disallowed goal from Game 1 of that Rangers-Penguins series as an example. The Penguins turned the puck over in the neutral zone, and Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko took it down to the offensive zone, coming down the wing and curling in front of the crease with speed.
With Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin on the backcheck, there was a collision in front of the net that knocked goalie Casey DeSmith out of it completely. The play was kept alive, and Kakko flicked the puck to Filip Chytil, who shot the puck into an open net.
Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan challenged for goalie interference and won, stating after the game that the Penguins had been a perfect 8-for-8 in those challenge calls on the season.
New York fans were livid, saying the officials were biased toward the Penguins. After all, Dumoulin clearly leaned into Kakko right before the collision.
But Sullivan's video team saw that Kakko failed to make an effort to avoid crashing into DeSmith, so the contact by Dumoulin was immaterial.
The success rate of the Pittsburgh video personnel shows that they are adept at quickly determining whether or not their goalies were interfered with.
The decision-making process, which has to work at lightning speed, often starts with the video replay teams. Video coordinators have less than a minute to issue a recommendation to the bench, and there has to be "indisputable evidence" to overturn a call.
The replay teams have a set of criteria they have to be able to quickly identify:
Was the contact inside or outside of the crease?
Was it initiated by the goalie's own defenseman, or was it by an attacking skater?
Was that contact avoidable, and did the skater make an effort to avoid the contact?
Did the goalie have enough time to get back into position before the goal was scored?
Did the contact have a material impact on the goalie's ability to make a save?
There are other variables that go into these decisions as well, like where the puck was, the score in the game, how much time is left on the clock and whether or not the goalie fought for his ice or just remained on the ground when he was able to regain his position (i.e., did he flop).
There are times when even goaltenders don't immediately realize they have been interfered with, which is why teams rely on replay personnel. They issue a recommendation to the coach on whether or not to challenge.
Then, the officials put on the headset and dial up the Situation Room, where the feeds are analyzed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Otk7FZGrKDY
It's important to note that the officials in Toronto have more available angles than the teams. They have more overhead angles and net camera feeds, which is often why it takes them longer than the 15-30 seconds it takes the video coordinators.
Why Is It So Hard to Determine?
There is a lot of gray area, and it leaves a lot of room for interpretation.
At the end of the day, it's a judgment call, and those are never 100 percent correct. Getting calls wrong can be embarrassing for the officials on the ice.
The league will issue explanations for the rulings but aren't allowed to be questioned. Many have suggested allowing a pool reporter from the media to ask for clarification, which is a common practice in the three other major North American professional sports leagues.
A direct line from the video booths to Toronto might help clarify things as well since the video coordinators from each team can relay the angles and time codes they are looking at.
Every other major North American pro sports league has a policy in place for a crew chief or representative of officials to be made available to reporters, except the NHL. https://t.co/EyvoVH6jWV
But while the inconsistent outcomes can be maddening, the priority is getting the call right, especially during the postseason. This can be extremely difficult given just how quickly goals are scored. The speed should not be understated. The game is fast out there.
What you see on Twitter might not be what they're seeing in Toronto. So the next time you're ready to get fired up thinking it was a blown call, ask yourself, do you really know what goalie interference is? Do any of us really know what it is?
Andrei Vasilevskiy Makes Case for Goalie 'Mount Rushmore' as Lightning Sweep Panthers
May 24, 2022
TAMPA, FL - MAY 22: Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) warms up during the NHL Hockey game 3 of the 2nd round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers on May 22, 2022 at Amalie Arena in Tampa Florida (Photo by Andrew Bershaw /Icon_Sportswire)
The Tampa Bay Lightning eliminated the Florida Panthers from the postseason with a 2-0 win Monday to complete the second-round series sweep.
The star was Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, who stopped 49 shots. The 27-year-old continued a stellar playoff run in which he hasn't allowed a third-period goal in six straight games.
Florida won the Presidents' Trophy this year as the team that scored the most points during the regular season. But against Vasilevskiy, the Panthers looked pedestrian, managing just three goals.
Much of the discussion online about the Lightning's win centered around Vasilevskiy and his place in NHL history after yet another special performance.
Yeah, I'm ready to place Andrei Vasilevskiy on my Mount Rushmore of all-time #NHL goaltenders.
Going back to the start of the third period in the #Bolts Game 6 OT win over Toronto, Andrei Vasilevskiy has stopped 179 of the last 183 shots he's faced for a ridiculous .978 save percentage. #FLAvsTBL
Fewest goals in a playoff series of 4+ games by team that led league in scoring in regular season in NHL history: 2022 Panthers: 3 in 4-game sweep by Lightning in 2nd round 2013 Penguins: 2 in 4-game sweep by Bruins in ECF
The run the Tampa Bay Lightning have been on is simply incredible. They're going for three Cups in a row, which in this era of hockey is just borderline unbelievable.
Andrei Vasilevskiy is still the best goaltender in the world. I'm riding with them until proven otherwise.
The 2018-19 Vezina Trophy winner, Vasilevskiy had already made a strong case to go down as one of the best goalies ever to play in the NHL. He's helped lead Tampa Bay to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in the last two years, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2021 as the MVP of the postseason.
Vasilevskiy is also riding a streak of five straight seasons as the league leader in wins. He set the record for most victories in a single postseason with 18 in 2020.
The Lightning are attempting to continue a historic run as they chase their third consecutive Cup. With Vasilevskiy in the net, Tampa Bay will have a great chance to stop the Carolina Hurricanes or New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Final.
Panthers Lambasted For Abysmal Power Play in Game 1 Loss vs. Lightning
May 18, 2022
SUNRISE, FL - MAY 17: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare #41 of the Tampa Bay Lightning checks Brandon Montour #62 of the Florida Panthers into the boards during second period action in Game One of the Second Round of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the FLA Live Arena on May 17, 2022 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
The words "power" and "play" might just be banned from the city of Miami.
The Florida Panthers failed to score on three power plays in a 4-1 Game 1 loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning, moving to 0-for-21 with a man-advantage in this year's postseason.
Power plays were the difference in the game, as the Lightning scored three extra-man goals on their six attempts. And after the game, fans were livid with Florida's inability to take advantage of their special teams' opportunities:
I’ve scored the same amount of power play goals as the Panthers have this postseason and I suck at hockey pic.twitter.com/9NIXqerlt5
Game 1 started off on a high note for the Panthers, as Anthony Duclair opened the scoring in the first period.
But Corey Perry evened the proceedings in the second period, and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Nikita Kucherov and Ross Colton each struck in a dominant third period for the Lightning.
Florida's power-play woes took a turn toward the cruel in that decisive third period, when it appeared the team had scored while a man up. Just before the goal, however, the puck hit the netting, and the play was overturned on review:
The Panthers finally score on the power play, but the Lightning challenge for a missed stoppage.
Jon Cooper went 4-4 this season on challenges, 0-1 on missed stoppages. This one gets the goal overturned. pic.twitter.com/A1hbSauy6e
Maybe. But it's more likely a trend they would prefer to end quickly. Beating the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions will be near impossible if the Panthers can't take advantage of those chances.
5 Takeways from Day 1 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs
May 3, 2022
TORONTO, ON - MAY 2: Mitch Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning with teammate Auston Matthews #34 during the second period in Game One of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Scotiabank Arena on May 2, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
Frederik Andersen jumped on to the scene as a young goalie in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Anaheim Ducks had lost trust in their No. 1 goalie, Jonas Hiller, and instead turned to their rookie netminder.
Fast-forward to 2022, with Andersen now with the Carolina Hurricanes but injured to begin the playoffs, many wondered whether this would be the moment for another rising rookie, 22-year-old Pyotr Kochetkov. Instead, the net went to veteran goalie Antti Raanta, and he delivered in his first-ever playoff start, backstopping Carolina to a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins in Game 1 of their first-round series.
The Carolina goaltending situation was one of the biggest storylines to come from the first night of the2022 NHL playoffs. The Toronto Maple Leafs' decisive win over the Tampa Bay Lightning was another.
Here are five takeaways from the first night of postseason action.
TORONTO, ON - May 2 Prior to the start of the game, fans begin to gather. Sher (left-no last name) and Stephanie Scott (holding a photo of Auston Matthews) give a cheer in Maple Leaf Square.
The Toronto Maple Leafs took on the Tampa Bay Lightning in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. This is the first game of the first round of playoffs
May 2 2022 (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
New Year, New Narratives
It's been nearly 20 years since the Maple Leafs have won a playoff round, but a 5-0 thrashing of the reigning Stanley Cup champs twice over has the Leafs faithful eager for more. If they advance past the first round, you will likely be able to point to the five-minute power play they killed off Monday as a catalyst.
Early on, Kyle Clifford received a five-minute major and a game misconduct penalty for boarding Ross Colton, but Toronto actually generated more scoring chances than it surrendered during seven shorthanded minutes in the first period. David Kampf scored a shorthanded goal in the second period. The vaunted Tampa Bay power play went 0-for-5.
Matthews and Marner faced significant criticism last year when the Maple Leafs were eliminated in seven games by the Montreal Canadiens. Two key team leaders and two major components to the lineup, Matthews scored only a single goal and assisted on five, while Marner scored none, which was the same amount he scored in the 2019-20 postseason.
It's too early to see if the curse has been lifted, but there is such immense pressure on the Maple Leafs to get out of the first round, and yet Toronto thrived under it.
TORONTO, ON - May 2 In third period action, Morgan Rielly (44) of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Jan Rutta (44) of the Tampa Bay Lightning battle it out as part of a full on melee between teams.
The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-0 in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. This is the first game of the first round of playoffs
May 2 2022 (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Borderline Violence
Prior to the series starting, Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe gave us what could be the quote of the postseason:
"I expect it to be a very physical, borderline violent series in a lot of ways," he told reporters in Toronto. "And our guys will be ready for that."
A total of 122 penalty minutes were doled out in Game 1, so clearly the Leafs were, in fact, ready. A line brawl even broke out midway through the third period involving two longtime NHL tough guys in Corey Perry and Wayne Simmonds.
The ESPN2 cameras cut away for a commercial during the post-whistle scrum, but there were skirmishes in other games as well. A suspension could also be coming from the department of player safety for Clifford's hit from behind on Colton. It would be unfortunate for Toronto, who relies on Clifford, a two-time Stanley Cup champion, to bring energy on the fourth line, but the Leafs proved they could win without him on Monday.
This is the time of year when the levels of intensity and physicality go up a few notches. This is when you hear players say they need to "play between the whistles." The key is making sure the emotions don't boil over to the point that it becomes detrimental.
Speaking of which…
SAINT PAUL, MN - MAY 02: Minnesota Wild Defenceman Jared Spurgeon (46) attempts to bump St. Louis Blues Winger Pavel Buchnevich (89) off the puck during game 1 of the NHL playoffs between the St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild on April May 2nd, 2022, at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, MN. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Un-Gentlemanly Conduct
The Minnesota Wild clinched home-ice advantage against their Central Division rivals St. Louis, but it didn't help much. David Perron scored a hat trick for the Blues in a 4-0 win, and Ville Husso became the first St. Louis goalie to record a shutout in his playoff debut, but all of that was overshadowed by a late penalty for a crosscheck by Jared Spurgeon.
With 1:34 left in the game, Spurgeon was tied up with Pavel Buchnevich. Frustrated by his inability to connect on the puck with Buchnevich upending him, he crosschecked the back of the Blues forward's legs, slamming his stick down with considerable force. It didn't really matter that the Wild was left shorthanded for the rest of the game—it was lost well before the penalty—but it was a dangerous play that is going to get reviewed by the department of player safety and could land him a suspension.
It was also uncharacteristic and unbecoming of a captain. Spurgeon was a Lady Byng finalist last season and is a perennial candidate for the sportsmanship award given to the most "gentlemanly" player combined with a high standard of playing ability.
A captain goes down with the ship. He doesn't put himself in a position to sit out games.
The Blues are 13-1-1 in their last 15 games against the Wild. Ouch.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 02: Antti Raanta #32 of the Carolina Hurricanes leads his team onto the ice against the Boston Bruins during Game One of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 02, 2022 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Storm Surged
The Bruins have a relentless forecheck. Carolina did its best to stop it, but if you look at the underlying numbers, you'll see this was a pretty evenly matched game. Shot attempts at 5-on-5 were 56-48 in favor of Boston, scoring chances were 24-23 and high-danger chances were 11-11. But the power play woes resurfaced for the Bruins. Despite the fact that Boston generated chances on the first two power plays, the third didn't even yield a single shot attempt.
There was also some consternation in the Bruins net. Linus Ullmark made the start for Boston and at one point gave up a goal off his mask. Do the Bruins go with rookie goalie Jeremy Swayman in Game 2? Ullmark started because Swayman struggled down the stretch, going 4-6-0 with an .877 save percentage in the final 10 games.
It's possible he hit a wall and these last few days off have been beneficial for him. But there is no doubt a tandem that once looked strong is suddenly in doubt.
But the story today is Raanta.
"For me, it was obviously the first start in the playoffs in the NHL," Raanta said in his postgame press conference. "I was just trying to focus on the things that have (allowed me) to be successful. It was working nicely. But it's only one game, one win, and now it's just regrouping and getting ready for Wednesday."
EDMONTON, AB - MAY 2: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers stands for the singing of the national anthem prior to Game One of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings on May 2, 2022 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
One-Man Rush
Connor McDavid did very Connor McDavid-like things against the Los Angeles Kings. You can call it an odd-man rush because technically one is an odd number, but it was a 1-on-5 with McDavid as the lone man in an orange and blue jersey in the offensive zone.
With the Kings up 2-0 in the final minute of the first period, McDavid picked up the puck in the defensive zone and picked up some serious speed. He went 1-on-everyone and skated coast-to-coast, going down the boards and cutting through two defenders while another two failed to pick up his movement and another watched helplessly as he sniped one past Jonathan Quick from the edge of the right circle.
It was an absurd goal scored by one of the most elite players in the world. He just completely walked the Kings' entire five-man unit.
But when Leon Draisaitl scored around the 10-minute mark of the second period to tie the game at 3-3, it underscored the fact that McDavid and Draisaitl can put a team on their backs and win on their own. The Oilers don't have to be fantastic, but they don't completely roll over, this team will stay in games.
However, staying in games isn't good enough for McDavid, who is desperate for a championship. And that desperation may be needed after the Kings grabbed a late goal to take a 1-0 series lead.
Phillip Danault scored after an incredible sequence that saw Mike Smith turn the puck over off the back of the boards, then dive back to the crease to make a save before Danualt tipped Sean Durzi's point shot into the net.
"I was just trying to make something happen," Smith told reporters in his postgame press conference. "Obviously, just trying to do too much there. In a tight game like that, you can't afford to make mistakes like that. It ended up costing us the game."
Smith has lost his last 10 playoff games, including all six he has played for the Oilers.
1 Nightmare Matchup for 5 NHL Playoff Contenders
Apr 10, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 26: Nicolas Roy #10 of the Vegas Golden Knights faces off with Darren Helm #43 of the Colorado Avalanche during the third period at T-Mobile Arena on February 26, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images)
We’re in the dog days of the 2021-22 NHL regular season. The cellar-dwelling teams are beating each other up in meaningless games while the top teams in each conference jostle for Stanley Cup Playoff positioning.
The Eastern Conference playoff grouping has been set for months, with the only thing left to determine is the final bracket. Over in the Western Conference, the wild card has yet to be determined. The Vegas Golden Knights could potentially miss the playoffs for the first time since the franchise’s history. The Vancouver Canucks still have an outside chance of leapfrogging Vegas and Dallas for that last wild-card spot.
And, of course, there is always a chance the high-powered Golden Knights get some of their firepower back and manage to pull ahead of the Los Angeles Kings to save their season.
Lots of scenarios are still in play.
Matchups are everything in the playoffs. Unlike in the regular season, when weaknesses can be minimized in a single game, a seven-game series allows some teams to exploit another's weakness or neutralize the opposition's strength. It's enough time to figure out how to pick apart a power play and how a goalie moves.Br
Sometimes two teams match up well, but other times it's a disastrous draw.
Here are five matchups that fall into the latter category and why.
Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Bryan Rust (17) breaks against the New York Rangers defense during the third period of NHL hockey game Thursday, April 7, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
New York Rangers: Pittsburgh Penguins
The New York Rangers will successfully take the next step in their rebuild when they return to the playoffs (technically, they only reached the postseason portion of the 2020 bubble tournament and not the playoff portion, failing to make it out of the qualifying round) for the first time since 2017.
They have a lineup full of elite talent at the top and emerging young stars throughout, plus a goalie who should be a finalist for the Vezina Trophy in Igor Shesterkin.
The lineup has also done a good job of limiting chances in front of Shesterkin, and their power play is exceptionally good, with the Blueshirts' 26.6 percent conversion being the second-best in the NHL.
The top unit with the man advantage might be one of the best, with Chris Kreider (the third-leading scorer in the league), Artemi Panarin, Ryan Strome, Mika Zibanejad and defending Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox. The addition of Andrew Copp to the second unit has given them a tougher net-front presence, but that second unit doesn't see a whole lot of time since the top one takes care of business.
However, the Rangers generate surprisingly little offense at 5-on-5, ranking toward the bottom of the league in Corsi, scoring chances and expected goals for. New York typically wins by winning the special teams battle and goaltending, making its Metropolitan Division foes in the Pittsburgh Penguins, the least penalized team in the NHL this season, its most potentially daunting challenge.
The Penguins also have the second-best penalty kill in the league and a ton of postseason experience. The Rangers' leaders aren't completely devoid of playoff experience, but it's tough to match that of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Jeff Carter and even former Ranger Brian Boyle.
Maybe this is where we see the changing of the guard, with the Rangers overcoming their even-strength issues and their young players knocking off the legendary vets, especially since the Rangers are 3-1-0 against Pittsburgh this season and have outscored the Penguins 11-4.
But on paper, this isn't a good matchup.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 26: Andre Burakovsky #95 of the Colorado Avalanche skates during the second period against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on February 26, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Zak Krill/NHLI via Getty Images)
Colorado Avalanche: Vegas Golden Knights
The Colorado Avalanche have been playing with a chip on their shoulder after losing in the second round to the Vegas Golden Knights last season. A meeting again in early rounds would be a nightmare for reasons other than just the statistical matchup because the Avs have been the better team all season.
Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty could get healthy enough for the playoffs when the salary cap doesn't matter, and the club would be out of the woods with the cap constraints. That would give Vegas an even deeper lineup than they had last spring when they knocked out Colorado in six games since Jack Eichel has joined the club.
The Avs have been the favorites in the Western Conference all season but have dealt with their own injury issues, with captain Gabriel Landeskog currently on injured reserve while he recovers from knee surgery. Nazem Kadri, who is second on the team with 83 points, is expected to return by the playoffs.
However, should Colorado continue to struggle with injuries and run into a fully healthy Golden Knights squad, they may struggle to avenge their playoff disappointment from a season ago.
Questions will be asked about last year's series, but Vegas has been a contender for four years. It's time for the Avs to show that they're a top team when it matters, and to do that, they may once again have to face off against Vegas.
TAMPA, FL - APRIL 4: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates against Alexander Kerfoot #15 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period at Amalie Arena on April 4, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images)
Toronto Maple Leafs: Tampa Bay Lightning
If you’re looking at playoff history, as we just did above, you might be thinking the worst opponent for the Toronto Maple Leafs would be the Boston Bruins. The Leafs have lost their last six postseason series against Boston dating back to 1969.
The 2019 first-round loss still stings, but this is a better, deeper Leafs team that has a different coach, a different goalie and plays much better defense.
Instead, the nightmare matchup for Toronto would be the Tampa Bay Lightning. To be fair, the Lightning are a nightmare team for anyone to face. They haven't lost a postseason series since 2019, and they're still the champions until someone knocks them off.
These are two elite teams that would make for a great series.
Tampa Bay has the best quite possibly the best goaltender in the world in Andrei Vasilevskiy, a proven coach in Jon Cooper and a deep lineup.
The team lost its entire third line of Blake Coleman, Yanni Gourde and Barclay Goodrow, as well as other players from those two Stanley Cup teams like Tyler Johnson, and hasn't missed a beat.
In Toronto, Auston Matthews has quickly become one of the most prolific scorers of this generation and is the type of game-breaking player that can make a difference in the playoffs. He scored his 55th goal of the season on Thursday night to set the Leafs' single-season record and the most for a U.S.-born NHL player.
Meanwhile, Mitch Marner has surpassed the 30-goal benchmark for the first time in his career.
Yet Matthews and Marner disappeared during their seven-game series with the Montreal Canadien last season. The Lightning have the defenders to neutralize even the best scorers, including Ryan McDonagh, who is expected to return as soon as this weekend.
Meeting in the first round is a realistic scenario given the current Atlantic Division standings. There is immense pressure on Toronto to get out of the first round, and this is an opponent who can bring the pressure on and off the ice.
Much like the Colorado-Vegas matchup, this one is less about the statistics and more about the storyline and the narratives that surround the Leafs and Lighting.
CALGARY, AB - MARCH 29: Calgary Flames head coach Darryl Sutter speaks to media after his teams 2-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on March 29, 2022, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Los Angeles Kings: Calgary Flames
The Los Angeles Kings will return to the playoffs for the first time since 2018. A decade ago, it looked as though they had an emerging dynasty, but the culture fell apart, key veterans departed and former general manager Dean Lombardi tried to keep the window open a little too long, failing to recognize that it had already shut.
Finally, Lombardi's successor, Rob Blake, decided to blow it up and rebuild in 2019. Blake kept some of that championship core, and Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Drew Doughty and Jonathan Quick remain.
He stockpiled talent and quickly built one of the most impressive prospect pools in hockey. He hired coach Todd McLellan to guide the team through the lean years and get them ready for a return to contention.
Los Angeles is ahead of schedule and currently sitting in third place in the Pacific Division with 86 points, a near-lock to make the playoffs. And there is a chance they could face a familiar face: Darryl Sutter, the coach that guided them to two Stanley Cups and the current coach of the Calgary Flames.
Sutter hockey has proven to be effective throughout the years, and the Flames are proof that it's still working. It might a low-event style of play, but Calgary is scoring 3.48 goals per game, good for sixth in the league, and they're the third-highest shot volume team at 5-on-5 in the NHL.
The Kings don't have the defense to withstand an offensive attack from Calgary. If Alexander Edler returns, as he is expected to soon, it will add another proven defender to the blueline. However, the club is unsure when Doughty can return from an upper-body injury, and without him, Los Angeles may not have enough to stop Calgary's offense.
The Los Angeles power play is also the least effective amongst teams in playoff contention, as its 16.6 percent mark is 28th in the league. The Flames, meanwhile, happen to be one of the best penalty-killing teams, killing off 83.4 percent of the opponent's power-play opportunities.
No one knows Sutter hockey like the Kings, but now that Kopitar, Doughty, Brown and Quick are on the other side, it might not be as much fun.
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 10: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce (22) moves in to break up a pass for Boston Bruins winger Nick Foligno (17) during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes on February 10, 2022 at TD garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Boston Bruins: Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes have outscored the Boston Bruins 16-1 in three meetings this year. Granted, one of those games was one of Tuukka Rask's final games in the NHL, and it was a disaster. However, Linus Ullmark didn't fare much better against the Canes in February, allowing all six goals in a 6-0 loss.
This matchup could be similar to a Kings-Flames series in that Carolina is a high shot-volume team, and Boston may not have the defense to contain their attack.
The Bruins added Hampus Lindholm at the trade deadline to deepen the blueline, and this team has been good at limiting scoring chances throughout the season.
They'll have to decide which goaltender to go with during the playoffs because a tandem is never really an effective plan past the regular season. They have two very good options in Jeremy Swayman and Ullmark, though, the latter of whom has played much better lately, going 6-0-0 with a .938 save percentage in his last seven games.
However, it's tough to argue with how many weapons Carolina has up front. This is an exceptionally deep team, especially at forward, where they can roll all four lines and overwhelm teams with the volume and quality of shots. They have defensemen with shutdown abilities like Brett Pesce and two who can jump into offensive plays in Jaccob Slavin and Tony DeAngelo.
It's a tough match for the Bruins, who have similar high-end talent but not as much as Carolina, especially on the blueline.
5 Takeaways from the Lightning-Predators Stadium Series Game
Feb 27, 2022
Fans watch as players warm up at Nissan Stadium before an NHL Stadium Series hockey game between the Nashville Predators and the Tampa Bay Lightning Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
The 2022 Stadium Series game had everything you could ask for in a hockey game. It was two big-time opponents playing in a unique atmosphere against an equally unique backdrop at Nissan Stadium.
The Nashville Predators and Tampa Bay Lightning combined for four power-play goals. There were heavy hits, a fight between two heavyweights in Pat Maroon and Michael McCarron, a Vezina Trophy preview matchup between Juuse Saros and Andrei Vasilevskiy and, of course, some controversial officiating.
The Lightning came away with a 3-2 win Saturday night, their fourth straight, and planned to hit the honky-tonks on Broadway wearing themed outfits.
The Predators, who have now lost five of their last seven, are engaged in a tight Central Division battle and could have used the two points. They had a shot with a third-period power-play goal by Filip Forsberg, but Tampa Bay held off the attack.
Still, it was a fantastic game to cap an eventful week in one of the league's most exciting cities. Just two days prior the Preds retired former goalie Pekka Rinne's number, the first number retired in franchise history.
"Every time there is something going on here, (the fans) show up and the support is unbelievable," Nashville defenseman Roman Josi told reporters after the game. "We wanted to win this game so bad for the fans. We couldn't get a win for them, but we’re very grateful for our fans. It's something we’ll never forget."
The hosts didn't get the result they hoped for, but there is still plenty to take away from this game for both teams.
Tanner Jeannot Has Entered the Chat
The Calder Trophy race has largely been a competition between Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras and Detroit Red Wings Defenseman Moritz Seider. There are others in the conversation as well, like Seider's teammate Lucas Raymond and Florida Panthers winger Anton Lundell. But Tanner Jeannot has jumped into the conversation as well.
Jeannot scored his 18th goal of the season in the first period to give the Preds a 1-0 lead, which ties him with Toronto's Michael Bunting for the rookie lead.
"I'm going to remember it for the rest of my life, for sure," Jeannot said. "It was a great experience, and I'm really happy for it. I wish we had a better outcome, but it was really fun."
An undrafted free agent, Jeannot is a big, physical winger who owns Nashville's record for rookie hits in a single season (179). Predators coach John Hynes likes his teams to be tough and grating. They're supposed to be difficult to play against. Jeannot's style of play fits in with that identity.
Hand-Eye-Foote Coordination
Another emerging young player had a big moment in the game, this time for the visitors. Cal Foote, a second-year defenseman who has been getting more ice time because of injuries on the blue line, played big minutes after Erik Cernak left the game with a head injury.
Foote was influential in the third goal of the game, knocking the puck down to keep it in the zone and then eventually finding Steven Stamkos for the score, which put Tampa Bay up 3-1 at 11:31 in the third period. A two-goal lead isn't a huge margin but against a team like the Lightning, it might as well be five goals.
Foote, the son of former NHL player Adam Foote and the brother of New Jersey Devils prospect Nolan Foote, also blocked a shot with his foot, staying true to his name.
This roster depth is part of what makes this Tampa team so scary. Which leads me to my next point…
Tampa Bay is Still the Team to Beat
After two tumultuous years in the NHL, it's tough to remember that nearly three years ago the Lightning were considered disappointments. After being swept in the first round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Columbus Blue Jackets, many wondered when a team that was largely considered to be one of the best regular season teams in the salary cap era would finally break through and win a championship.
But two straight Cups later and the Lightning is a juggernaut. The winning core is still in place with Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Alex Killorn, Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh still playing in front of Vasilevskiy. Stamkos, Kucherov and Point are three of the most dangerous scoring threats in the league. McDonagh, who blocked three shots in the final 3:35 and two with the extra attacker on the ice for Nashville in the waning seconds, remains a premier defender in the league.
The team lost many key depth players from the last two Stanley Cup runs but hasn't missed a beat because of quality players like Foote, Taylor Raddysh and Mathieu Joseph that have come from the club's own farm system. Corey Perry was brought in for his experience and his scoring.
And then, of course, there is Maroon, the three-time Cup champ who came into the game riding a hobby horse while wearing skinny jeans. He's a character, but it works with this team.
This was a big game and they found a way to win, as the best teams do. The road to the Stanley Cup will go through Florida, with the Panthers and Lightning playing dominant hockey right now.
Flipping Filip Forsberg
Forsberg gave the Preds hope late in the third period with a power-play goal at 12:29. There was some debate over whether or not a hooking penalty by Victor Hedman drawn by Ryan Johansen should have resulted in a penalty shot. Instead, it was ruled a two-minute minor and a power play for Nashville.
Filip Forsberg bringing life back into the home crowd one PP goal at a time. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZRKwS6DpnB
General manager David Poile is reportedly shopping Forsberg and his signature mustache on the trade market. With 26 goals and 18 points this season and a contract that will expire this summer, Forsberg will bring in a solid haul for the Preds. Re-signing him will be tricky with the money committed to Johansen, Matt Duchene, Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm and Saros over the next few years.
Sure, the Preds could hang on to him past March 21 without a contract extension in place. He seems too important to trade and his production would be difficult to replace, even if Poile was able to make a hockey trade instead of a futures trade for assets like draft picks or prospects.
There is obviously still time to work something out, but that power-play goal reminded everyone how impactful he is on a team in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Singing the Praises of Smashville
Each year after the Winter Classic passes, there is always a debate about whether or not the novelty has worn off of the outdoor games. The Stadium Series games don't hold the same sort of significance as the Winter Classic and there have always been naysayers who don't like their teams trying to earn two points on bad ice in a rink with unfamiliar sight lines.
Nashville Predators defensemen Dante Fabbro, right, and Roman Josi greet fans as players arrive at Nissan Stadium before an NHL Stadium Series hockey game between the Predators and the Tampa Bay Lightning Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
But these games are a nice way to bring some excitement to an otherwise dull part of the season and showcase different venues and cities. The entertainment factor was high with high-profile country music stars playing during the intermissions and the two teams clearly embraced the atmosphere as well with their themed outfits.
Much like when the St. Louis Blues showed up to a frigid Target Field wearing beach attire, the Preds dressed the part for the city and the Lightning took it even further with all-denim ensembles.
Are they novel anymore? No, but who cares. Outdoor hockey games provide fun for the players and spectators. Even at the highest level, hockey is still supposed to be fun.
Lightning's Nikita Kucherov Out 8-10 Weeks After Surgery on Lower-Body Injury
Oct 27, 2021
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) looks on during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Tampa Bay Lightning star winger Nikita Kucherov is set to miss at least two months with a lower-body injury.
The Lightning announced Kucherov underwent a procedure on the unspecified injury Tuesday and will miss eight to 10 weeks.
In three games this season before getting injured, Kucherov accounted for one goal and three assists.
The three-time All-Star sat out the 2020-21 regular season while recovering from offseason hip surgery. He returned for the first game of the Stanley Cup playoffs and led the NHL in postseason scoring en route to a second straight championship.
Kucherov's injury and subsequent return led many hockey fans to criticize the Lightning for being $18 million over the salary cap, which doesn't count in the playoffs.
Before the 2019-20 season, the Russian had been one of the most durable players in the league, playing 515 of 562 of Tampa's regular-season games from 2013 to 2020. In those games, he tallied 221 goals and 326 assists for 547 points.
Kucherov is one of the top players in the NHL, as he won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer and the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 2019.
With Kucherov sidelined, the Bolts will rely heavily on captain Steven Stamkos, Brayden Point, Ondrej Palat and Alex Killorn up front. Corey Perry, Pat Maroon and Anthony Cirelli are among the forwards that will need to fill in during Kucherov's absence.
The Lightning persevered without Kucherov last season, but this season could be a different story.
Tampa has struggled during a 3-3-1 start, and it will have to snap out of it without the benefit of its best forward for at least the next two months.
