Here we are, game six of the Stanley Cup Final. After going down for the second consecutive series 2-0 most in the media left your Tampa Bay Lightning for dead. The Lightning would win game three, lose game four and stop the celebration in Denver with a game five win. Now all that is left is to win game six to tie up the series, then back to Denver for game seven.
The Tampa Bay Lightning can do it once again, but this season has been different than the prior two. In 2019-2020 the Lightning never had to come from behind in any series. Same in the 2020-2021 playoffs, the Bolts were never behind in any of those series. This season they’ve been behind in every series, except the second round versus the Florida Panthers.
Landeskog won’t critcize refs…. really?
Following the game five loss to the Lightning, Colorado Avalanche Captain Gabriel Landeskog said they won’t comment on the officiating, the Lightning can continue to do that, Really Landeskog? Because back on March 10th 2022 during the regular season he was all about criticizing the refereeing. To quote him
“I’m not saying TJ and Wes didn’t call it for that reason, but Naz is a guy that’s competitive. Whether he sold that call or not, you can look at the video and the stick is in his waist and that’s why he loses the puck. I think it’s unfortunate.”
Landeskog also got a 10 minute game misconduct with less than a minute left, ending his night early. He was of course refering to Nazim Kadri, who has a history of suspensions in his career, but for a guy to “comment” on the referees there, but then criticize the Lightning for doing it. I would say that you sir need to remember when you say things. One question that keeps coming up regarding the Avalanche regarding their too many men penalties, is this something they have been getting away with all season? It just seems weird in back to back games, one of which they didn’t get caught the other they did that it would happen around the same time both games…. seems a little too coincidental doesn’t it?
It’s Stammer Time!!
It’s a crap shoot who has the most pressure coming into this game, is it the Colorado Avalanche or is it the Lightning? Less than a minute into the game Cale Makar took down Alex Killorn near center ice and got two minutes for interference. The Bolts were unable to do much on the early power play, it wasn’t until almost three minutes later that the Lightning had a extended play in the offensive zone, Ondrej Palat got the puck to the Lightning Captain Steven Stamkos in front of the net and bruried it past Darcy Kuemper for a 1-0 Lightning lead. That’s the captain’s 11th goal of the playoffs.
The start the @TBLightning needed. #StanleyCup
🇺🇸: ABC, @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/wu7qwoVSNa
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/1xvoZFBxir pic.twitter.com/3lSHErOtOQ— NHL (@NHL) June 27, 2022
MacKinnon strikes
For only the second time in the Stanley Cup Final, Nathan MacKinnon has scored a goal. From an awfully awkward angle MacKinnon slipped the puck just past the blocker of Andrei Vasilevskiy to tie the game 1-1. Almost six minutes later Artturi Lehkonen puts the Avalanche ahead 2-1 from nearly the same spot as MacKinnon. The Lightning started losing their cool a little too much following the second goal. Pat Maroon slammed his stick hitting Josh Manson on the skate. Thankfully that bad decision didn’t end up in a penalty like it could have.
Third Period of… not a lot
For a team needing a goal in a big way the Lightning only registered 2 goals through three quarters of the third period. The normal heavily offensive team Colorado went into a defense first mentality in the third.
Three Stars of the Game
3rd Star: Artturi Lehkonen
2nd Star: Nathan MacKinnon
1st Star: Darcy Kuemper
