Lightning eliminate the Canadiens, plus the latest on the Flames, Canucks and Oilers.
Steven Stamkos scores what would be his series winning goal against the Canadiens.
TAMPA BAY TIMES/MONTREAL GAZETTE: Nikita Kucherov scored twice, Steven Stamkos tallied the eventual game-winning goal and Ben Bishop made 18 saves as the Tampa Bay Lightning crushed the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 to win their best of seven second-round series four games to two.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: After the Canadiens dominated the Lightning throughout most of this series, Game Six looked like a re-run of every game between these two clubs during this regular season. Lightning coach Jon Cooper claimed before Game 6 his players were angry over losing the last two games. If so, they successfully channeled that anger into a determined and disciplined effort. The Canadiens never really had much of a chance in this one, despite the heroics of superstar goalie Carey Price, who stopped 24 of 27 shots.
Price publicly took the blame for this loss, but nobody’s faulting him. His teammates couldn’t contain the Lightning’s speed and offensive depth.
The Lightning move on to the Eastern Conference Final where they’ll face either the New York Rangers or Washington Capitals, while Canadiens management will spend this offseason looking to address its roster weaknesses. I’ll have more on that in the “Rumors” section.
CALGARY SUN: The Flames revealed several of their players were hampered by injuries down the stretch and during the playoffs. Among them were Sean Monahan (groin, back), Jiri Hudler (neck and back problems), TJ Brodie (sprained ankle), Micheal Ferland (torn oblique muscle), Josh Jooris (wrist injury) and Joe Colborne (thumb and wrist injuries).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Judging by how those guys played, you’d never know they were hampered by injury.
THE VANCOUVER SUN: While Canucks goaltender Eddie Lack remains committed to improving his performance, his future in Vancouver remains in doubt.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The expectation is the Canucks will retain Lack and trade Jacob Markstrom. We’ll find out over the course of this offseason if that comes to pass.
EDMONTON SUN: The Oilers have signed Finnish goalie Eetu Laurikainen to a two-year entry-level contract.
If I`m Benning I look to trade Miller to SJ if for no other than reason to get his 6 mil cap hit off the books for the next 2 seasons. I get Lack resigned as soon as possible. He has 1 season remaining & is a UFA after that so eligible to be resigned after July 1st. With Miller in tow for 2 more years they might be able to get Lack to take 2 or 3 years in or around 3 mil. Then if Miller can`t be moved then move Lack. Markstrom has earned the chance to be a back up. He has nothing left to prove in the minors.
I don`t even care about the return for Miller, it would essentially be just a salary dump. If this can`t be accomplished & Lack has to go then I want fair market value for Lack, what ever that might be from whoever might be interested but I assume there would be a market for Lack.
never going to get rid of Miller with out hurting the team in other ways,giving up young players or draft picks or holding a bunch of that 6 mill imo.
SJ needs a goalie. I think Miller would wave his no trade clause to go to SJ. It gets him even closer to his wife. The question is does SJ want Miller for 2 years at 6 mil potentially. SJ have 20 mil essentially in cap space & everyone of substance is signed but a goalie.
If I`m Vancouver I except a 2nd. I eat no salary nor include any young player as enticement. If the deal fly`s great. If not keep Miller, do the best you can to resign Lack & try trade Markstrom if able. Markstrom will have to clear wavers again next season to be sent down & that won`t happen again.
but if I am SJ why am I giving up anything for a 6 million dollar goalie who over the past few years has alot worse numbers than the goalie I wont resign?…Could happen I suppose but if you look at Millers numbers they are backup like for the better part of 5 or 6 years, and he didnt help St. Louis or Vancouver which were really pretty decent teams, in fact he was the opposite. Not sure a team looking to solve goaltending issues wants Miller at 6 mill.
I think Miller played well in Vancouver. Not lights out but very solid.
Buffalo was an awful team & had been for years. Vancouver was an a none playoff team going into this srason. They are aging & have line up issues of there own. Their D is skow & they haven’t really had a crease clearer Mitchell.
I’m not saying it’s going to happen just I would like it to but if not who cares. In Miller you get a goalie you know can play 70 games a year if healthy. & the certainly need a goalie. SJ won’t miss the playoffs again. How they did last season with that roster is mind boggling.
Buffalo was an awful team, yes but Miller didnt make a difference, he didnt make a difference for the Blues and didnt make a difference for the Canucks,yet he gets paid like he does…now if I am a team that is struggling with goaltending I have no interest in a 6 million dollar goalie who doesnt make a difference, especially when when I look at my team and what ails it seems to be I need a better goalie. I need a goalie to make a dfference otherwise just get a cheaper one and split time wth Stalock
So, if you look at whos left and fancy stats..
in picking winners Regressed GF % is 9-2
Every remaining playoff team has outshot their opponent over this full season.
Carey Price had the third lowest SV% in the second round.
…not going to win on the back of goaltending alone, at some point trends and averages catches up with you. Habs need to be deeper, and to fire Therrien.
the habs should have won that series in 5 they outplayed the lightning in this series just didn’t get the bounces 9 goal posts didn’t help
I dont disagree at points the Habs were dominating posession but down 10-4 in goals after the first 3 games, only scoring one goal in 3 games there was more wrong with the offence than a few posts or bad bounces. The Habs were awful killing penalties, a lot of those shots that the Habs did have were all from the outside, where the Lightning had fewer shots a higher % were from the slot and more dangerous areas…Dont let the no. of shots fool ya Jelly the Habs didnt deserve to win that series. You kinda sound like a Sens fan sayin if it wasnt for Stone being injured…the better team won man, blaming posts puck luck referees injuroes…its all the same, the better team won becaise they were deeper offensively with as good or better goaltending.
Pacioretti highest Habs forward with 7 next highest is Gallagher with 5 points… Johnson has 12 kucherov 11 Stamkos 10 Kilorn 9 Palat 8. 5 of the Lightning top 6 has more points than every Habs forward.
everyone of you fancy stats was in the habs favor they dominated the majority of that series your wrong shticky everyone knows the habs outplayed the lightning advance stats the patches line was the best in the second round the habs had way more and better scoring chances majority of tb shots were from the outside whatever way you look at it shticky the habs should have won the series and that’s why I don’t believe in all those stats in the playoffs especially
shticky… how many goals did the rangers and washinton score?? I know the leafs don’t get here often but you should watch the playoffs a little more goal scoring goes way down! and as far as the goal posts don’t matter they are great scoring chances I cant believe you actually think tb outplayed the habs especially with all the advance stats you swear by
tissue jelly?
I knew they weren’t winning the cup shticky nice comeback again you really proved your point typical no knowledge leaf fan spouting off
low shooting percentage…Prices sv % from inclose .756, Habs shots from the slot under 25 % the Lightning shot from the slot nearly 27%…you dont believe in those stats Jelly cause you dont know how to read them, yes at times the habs held possession it doesmt do any good if you cant score…ask the Leafs who actually improved their possession the last jalf of the season but couldnt score. lol
they hit 9 posts shticky lol every hockey guy says the habs outplayed the bolts how do you not see that?
Maybe because (besides pro scouts like yourself who wear Habs PJs to bed every night) everyone says the same thing…the Habs lost to a better team, they need more offense and posts dont count for anything….they sored 23 goals in 12 games, less than 2 goals a game and you are not going to make it very far in the playoffs if you have to win every game 1-0.
when do you have time to make this stuff up every hockey guy said it was an upset and the habs outplayed the lightning in every part of the game quit lying to yourself man! I don’t know why you even talk on here you wanted Carlyle fired it happens and than the leafs go in a freefall you were wrong and than you said franson could land Ritchie???? lmao a top tier prospect for a rental that was sat in the playoffs but oh no you kept saying how good franson was yet you were wrong again you really don’t know hockey that well you were to busy jiggling your zipper to the kids you supposedly coached instead of following the game
Ducks 34 goals, Lightning 34 goals Blackhawks 32 goals Capitals 28 Flames 27 goals Rangers 25 goals Wild 24 goals Habs 23…yes scoring goes down in the playoffs but besides the Rangers seems like everyteam that advanced didnt have much of a problem scoring mpre than 2 a game. Posts or no posts, other teams hit posts too the Habs need offense jelly. They didnt deserve to win.
lmao ya your right every hockey guy thinks tb really outplayed the habs! give it a rest shticky your wrong yet AGAIN
Every hockey guy thinks a team that scored 2 or fewer goals 5 out of 6 games deserved to win against a team that only scored under 2 goals a game once out of 6 games? And scored 2 or more 5 of 6 times??? Do those hockey guys count goal posts too?
oh shticky you just proved why nobody cares what you say