Game two’s high-scoring affair Saturday resulted in a 5-1 Lightning win, tying the opening-playoff round between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Detroit Red Wings 1-1.
But it won’t be the high flying Steven Stamkos that will get them to the Stanley Cup Finals. It’s going to be goalie Ben Bishop and the tough, physical and dominating defensive play by the blue line giants.
The phrase “defense wins championships” has become an overused cliché in the world of sports. For the NHL, however, truer words have never been spoken. The last top-heavy offensive team that won the Stanley Cup was the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009, and even they had great team chemistry with superb goaltending (Mark Andre Flurry used to play well under pressure) and a defense that wouldn’t be pushed around.
Since then, the Boston Bruins, a very defensive-minded team, has won the cup and advanced to the Conference Finals twice, knocking the Lightning out in seven games by wearing us down physically. The LA Kings have won two cups in two years, and Chicago (a well-rounded team) has also won twice since 2010.
The Lightning’s first round matchup against Detroit will go six games. The Lightning have the edge on goaltending, defense, offensive power and size. Detroit is a gritty team traditionally, but their inconsistent goaltending will bury them. Detroit Coach Mike Babcock will make adjustments to steal two games, stretching the series to six.
Assuming the Lightning advance into the second round they will likely face the Montreal Canadiens. This round two match-up will be difficult as they face a very physical team, a team that could wear them down over seven games (as did Boston in 2011).
If Ben Bishop doesn’t falter, it’ll be up to Coach Jon Cooper to pair up the right guys on defense to match Montreal’s intensity and physical play.
With Lighting’s 6-foot-6 defensive captain Victor Hedman leading the way and tough guys like Matt Carle controlling the crease, the Lightning will advance to the Conference Finals.
Hedman is a two-way defender and able to score. He is fast enough to make sure he is not caught out of position. Carle is a “stay-at-home” defenseman that can throw the body around, clear the crease, dig for the puck and drop the gloves if things get chippy. Braydon Corburn is another defensive acquisition that ex-Red Wing and current Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman brought in to improve the durability of our team.
Thanks to Yzerman and Cooper, the Lightning have a new team identity. No longer do they get pushed around on the ice # it’s the Lightning pushing.
The Lightning’s Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 17-2.
