Where Were We? A Handful of Takeaways On Eve of Massive Game Five
- Riley Gillespie-Wilson
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
A playoff series in the National Hockey League is more than just a best-of-seven decision. It's a battle of attrition. It's a fight to the bitter end. More than that, it's cinema. Like every good film, the Lightning vs. Canadiens first-round bout has been full of highs and lows. Heroes and villains. Playing the role of the latter would be the Bolts. Brandon Hagel and Nikita Kucherov being serenaded by Bell Centre boos.
When asked about his team being painted as the villain Jon Cooper kept it simple.
"Somebody's got to play the villain," the Tampa Bay head coach told media before Game 3.
"We're okay with it."
Where We Sit Before Game Five
The series shifts back to the Bay for Game Five as it began: tied. The Lightning stunned the home Habs in Game 4, on the back of another monstrous performance from Brandon Hagel.
The series is 2-2, with each squad splitting their home games.
So, as we prepare for the fifth installment of genuinely one of the most evenly matched series in recent memory, who will throw the next punch? Metaphorically or literally, it could be Hagel. Safe to say that wouldn't be shocking given his six goals thus far.
Let's begin with the obvious as we dive into five key points before the fifth contest Wednesday at Benchmark International Arena.
Hagel Heaven
What's left to say about Brandon Hagel?
Just ask 'Coop.'
That letter would be well-earned considering his output. We could still have three games remaining and he has six goals. Bonkers.
His play though goes beyond putting the puck in the net. It's his physicality, his sandpaper and his hustle. It's truly been all that and more. A Gordie Howe hat-trick to boot, this has been a Hagel special with fries and coleslaw.
"200- foot player... A special player for our team... He's one of the best players in the league for a reason." Lightning forward Jake Guentzel (who had a huge goal to start the comeback in Game 4) had nothing but good things to say on Hagel after the victory.
"Thanks, Jake" was the only retort from Hagel in front of reporters.
Humble. You've got to love it.
Stifling Cirelli
Anthony Cirelli has quietly been having an amazing series. Playing in a shut down role for Cooper is a dream for an annual contender for the Selke Trophy.
Awarded to the game's best two-way player, Cirelli is a vote-getter on the yearly.
It might not show up on the scoresheet, but Cirelli's defensive prowess against the Nick Suzuki line is admirable. Suzuki alone was a 100 point man this season.
Don't underestimate the value of a line or a player with this capability, not only to blank top opposing players, but to do so on a whim, jumping onto the ice as Cooper and Marty St. Louis play a chess match in the matchup department all series long.
Cirelli is a plus in the +/- category in every game thus far.
Be thankful for this performance, too, Bolts fans. It may not be setting records like Hagel, but this style of play from the Canadian is inspiring to every Lightning on the ice.
Vasy Finding Footing
It's a well-known notion Andrei Vasilevskiy is an elite goaltender. What makes him so? Well, many things, but namely his ability to steal games.
In the playoffs, doing so becomes a huge edge for this Lightning team. He came close to doing just that and snagging one in Game 3.
Let's be real, 'The Big Cat' was the sole reason that game got to overtime, or close to it.
He was excellent, making 29 saves in the 3-2 loss. It was a game that felt paramount to Vasilevskiy, who couldn't have been too happy with the previous few games of the series.
The team had the Russian netminder's back in game number four, rewarding his stellar play the game prior with a come-from-behind effort.
While 'Vasy' was only tested 18 times in a tight-checking Game 4, that performance Game 3, even in a loss, could be huge for his confidence.
Secondary Scoring Evading Bolts Thus Far
Through four games we've yet to see a lot of candidates to fill the net really emerge. Jake Guentzel got on the board in Game 4 with a big one and Brayden Point got his first of the series in Game 3.
Those guys aside, we know Hagel is in beast mode. JJ Moser with a huge overtime winner started what could be a huge trend for Tampa. That would be secondary scoring. In other words, the not-so usual suspects putting the puck in the net.
Nick Paul has yet to score. The same goes for Gage Goncalves. Cirelli obviously gets some slack dogging the Suzuki line so much, but the point remains.
Heck, give us a Yanni Gourde goal. Dominic James. We're not picky.
The message here is simple. While the Lightning are in a tie series despite the lack of secondary tallies, it could just be the difference in this series to get a few from unlikely sources. We know how tight it is out there.
No Time to Take a Breath
As Jon Cooper told our own Mike Smith when back in Tampa for Game 5 "we've got to have that killer instinct."
We'll have more on those comments soon, but in a brief fifth note before Wednesday's game, go get this one or die trying, Lightning.
You don't want your back against the wall heading to Montreal, and, hey, an extra chance to bury your opponent? You can sign any team up for that this time of year.
The margin for error in the playoffs is thin. Time to find out who has more left in the tank.
Game 5 in the Bay is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday April 29th.
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