Resiliency is Key as Bolts Look Ahead to Crucial Game 5
- Mike Smith
- Apr 29
- 5 min read
By Mike Smith | Thunderstruck Sports
If there is one great takeaway from Sunday night's 3-2 comeback win against the Montreal Canadiens, it's that the Tampa Bay Lightning aren't lacking in heart, determination, and resiliency. Facing a two-goal deficit in a hostile environment, the Bolts found a way to win Game 4 at the Bell Centre and regain the advantage in the Eastern Conference First Round.
That heart, determination, and resilience will be necessary as Tampa Bay brings the series back to Benchmark International Arena on Wednesday night for Game 5.
For a while on Sunday night, the Lightning looked like they were headed back to Tampa with their tails between their skates, trailing by a near-insurmountable 3-1 deficit. Montreal was again in control of the game tempo and jumped out to a 2-0 lead halfway through the second period.
Then, the heart, determination, and resilience of the Tampa Bay Lightning came to light.
The Hit Heard 'Round the Series
Crozier changed the entire complexion at the 17:48 mark of the second period of Game 4 with a huge hit on Montreal forward Juraj Slafkowsky right in the middle of the Montreal crest at center ice. Not only was it a perfectly clean hit, but it also set the tone for the remainder of the game.
Crozier lowered his shoulders and placed his hit directly into Slafkowsky's chest. Crozier popped right back up and backpedalled around the slumping body of Slafkowsky for good measure.
The Lightning bench erupted. The Bell Centre crowd went silent. Slafkowsky did not know what or who hit him.
And little did Montreal know that at that point, the game was over.
"That's a big-time hit getting everyone into the game," Guentzel said. "The bench got fired up, and sometimes something like that can change a game."
Crozier did not just put a dent in the Canadiens' armor. The Lightning defenseman absolutely shattered it.
Guentzel scored with 57 seconds left in the second period to further take the life out of the Montreal Canadiens and the Bell Centre crowd.
If Montreal had been allowed back in the locker room unscathed, there's no telling how the complexion of the game would have gone during the final stanza.
"That was huge 4-on-4," Lightning forward Yanni Gourde said. "Jake made a really good play holding onto the puck, and he kind of gave us a little bit of relief seeing that puck go in."
Hagel Continues to Be A Way-Too-Early Conn Smythe Candidate
Brandon Hagel then scored the equalizing goal at the 1:40 mark of the third period with a power play goal set up by Nikita Kucherov. Planting himself in front of Montreal's Jakub Dobes, Hagel snapped the puck into the net for his fifth goal of the series to bring the score to 2-2.
Hagel then picked up his sixth goal and the game-winner late in the game when a Kucherov shot deflected off him and into the Montreal net.
The comeback was complete, and despite the Canadiens' best efforts on a last-minute power play, the series heads back to Tampa tied at 2.
"He (Hagel) may not wear a letter now, Head coach Jon Cooper said. "But, eventually, he is going to."
Hagel's six goals in this opening round tie Kucherov (2015) and Point (2021) for most goals in a Lightning single playoff series. His six goals in the opening round match the likes of Nathan McKinnon (2021), Peter Forsberg (1998), Petr Nedved (1996), and five other NHLers for most through the first four games of a postseason.
"He's definitely become the straw that stirs our drink," said Cooper. "Even when we went down 2-0, he stood up and looked both ways, and literally, I think, captivated the bench with what he was saying and the message he was delivering."
Hagel is the way-too-early leader for the Conn Smythe trophy, awarded to the best player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"This guy, he (Hagel) just does it all," Guentzel said. "Two-hundred-foot player, plays on both sides of the puck. Obviously, he's one of the hottest guys in the league right now. It's been fun to watch. It's been fun to be out there with him. Obviously, he's one of the best players in the league for a reason."
"He's doing all the right things," said Gourde. "He plays in all situations. He goes to the front of the net and blocks shots. He's doing everything you have to do. He's playing excellent hockey. It's fun to see him play like this."
Hagel will need to keep up this amazing start to the postseason and help the Lightning get through the first round against Montreal, or he will be quickly forgotten as the postseason advances.
Special Teams Need Another Big Game or Three (Hopefully Two)
Tampa Bay will need to minimize mistakes and capitalize on Montreal's errors again tonight. The Lightning's power play needs to continue to improve this series, and Hagel's goal on the man advantage was so important in Game 4.
The Bolts are 4-for-20 (20%) on the power play in the series. The Lightning missed on six power play opportunities Sunday night, but Hagel's goal on the man advantage came at the right time to help bring the win.
"Our power play got one when we needed it to, and then we just continued to roll," Hagel said. "I thought we were good all night, to be honest."
The penalty kill has improved since a disastrous start in Game 1, where they gave up three goals a man down. Since Game 1, they've gone 13-for-15 (87%).
When Kucherov went off for slashing Mike Matheson with 2:33 left in the game, all of Tampa Bay held their collective breath. The Bolts ended up blocking six shots in front of Andrei Vasilevskiy to preserve the win.
"Obviously a huge kill at the end there and Vasy (Vasilevskiy) played unbelievable," Guentzel said. "That's just a resilient group, and a big win for us."
Resiliency is Key Going Forward
Tampa Bay now has the home ice advantage again heading into Wednesday night's crucial Game 5. Tampa Bay knows the stakes, and Montreal does, as well.
"They're a tough team, and we knew it was going to be a tough series," Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. "We're right in it, we're in a battle. It's a fine line between winning and losing in these games, but we're battling."
"Now it's a best of three," Cooper said, arriving back in Tampa Monday. "The biggest thing for me is if we come back here and say 'Oh my God, we won this big Game 4 in Montreal', and lay an egg, that would be disappointing."
"We have to stay disciplined a little bit more," Gourde said Wednesday morning. "Trusting our system. Trusting what works."
The Lightning must come out with the heart, determination, and resilience just as they did in Game 2 and the last half of Game 4. This series between Tampa Bay and Montreal is the hottest series of the Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round, by far.
The series is either team's to take. Wednesday night will show which team has more heart, more determination, and the tenacious resilience needed to push through and win a long playoff run.
"You have to give yourself as many chances as possible to knock on a team,' Cooper went on. "And by doing that, you've got to win these odd-number games. You've got to win Game 5."
"You lose Game 5, and now your back's against the wall. This is a mindset thing, man, and we have to have that killer instinct."
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