Lightning eliminate the Islanders, Senators hire Guy Boucher as head coach & more in today’s collection of NHL morning headlines.
Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman celebrates one of his two goals against the Islanders.
TAMPA BAY TIMES/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS: Victor Hedman scored twice and Ben Bishop turned aside 28 shots to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to a series-clinching 4-0 blanking of the New York Islanders, winning their best-of-seven series in five games. For the second straight year, the Lightning advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning’s depth in talent, even with captain Steven Stamkos and defenseman Anton Stralman sidelined, proved too much for the Islanders. They neutralized Isles captain John Tavares, who collected two points in the first game and never got back on the score sheet again. The Bolts now await the winner of the Pittsburgh Penguins – Washington Capitals series.
TRIBLIVE.COM/THE WASHINGTON POST: Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan declined to say if he’s planning to change goalies for Game 6 on Tuesday against the Washington Capitals. Sullivan praised the play of rookie Matt Murray, who’s among the top goalies this far in the 2016 playoffs. Washington Capitals coach Barry Trotz, meanwhile, was pleased with the performance of his revamped line in their 3-1 Game 5 victory. However, it’s unclear if those changes will remain in place for Game 6.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Murray didn’t play that badly in the Game 5 loss, and he was outstanding in his previous outings. Marc-Andre Fleury has considerable playoff experience but hasn’t played a game in weeks. Murray’s earned the right to finish the job in Game 6. If he doesn’t, then perhaps they can go with Fleury in Game 7.
THE MERCURY NEWS/THE TENNESSEAN: San Jose Sharks captain Joe Pavelski is a big reason his club is poised to advance to the Western Conference Finals. The Nashville Predators, meanwhile, face what could be the most important game in franchise history as they attempt to stave off elimination in Game 6 against the Sharks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pavelski’s among the playoffs leading scorers, sitting second in goals (8) and third in points with 12. He’s only one goal and five points behind his career-best playoff totals.
STLTODAY.COM/DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Goaltender Brian Elliott has helped put his club in position to advance to the Western Conference Finals tonight in Game 6 against the Dallas Stars. Meanwhile, Stars forward Patrick Eaves (foot injury) traveled with his teammates to St. Louis and could be in the lineup tonight.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Elliot’s performance isn’t receiving as much hypes as Washington’s Braden Holtby, Pittsburgh’s Matt Murray or Tampa Bay’s Ben Bishop, but he’s been steady between the pipes for the Blues this spring.
OTTAWA CITIZEN: The Ottawa Senators yesterday announced the hiring of Guy Boucher as their new head coach. Boucher spent nearly three seasons coaching the Tampa Bay Lightning (2010-11 to 2012-13).
I know I’ll be in the minority but I play Fleury in game 6. I don’t want to have to be turning to Fleury in game 7 if Murray falters in game 6. I’m not saying Murray deserves to be removed if he was the starter but he’s not. Fleury is & this ins’t to disparage Murray in anyway. I have him in 2 of my 3 fantasy keeper leagues.
A player isn’t really supposed to lose his position due to injury but this is the playoffs so that rule doesn’t necessarily hold. My reasoning is simply logic. If Fleury plays well in game 6 you start riding him & if he falters you return to Murray either in game 6 or game 7 depending on how Fleury plays. I don’t want to be bringing Fleury into a game 7 must win having had more than a month off due to injury. I get him into game 6 a game I don’t want to lose but could & still have life.
It’s a tough situation either way but for me it makes more sense to get Fleury into game 6 as the starter.
No Fleury is not an option in game 6 or 7 unless Murray gets lit up really bad and every indication from his play and his demeaner say there is little chance that happens. MAF has not played a game in almost 2 months and you can want to play him in the teams most important game in years when the other option is better? Fleury played very well all year but he is also prone to letting in bad goals. He is always out way erring trying to play the puck which he is terrible at. Putting MAF in the game offers way more questions than answers and it’s an unfair distraction for the rest of the players. There is zero chance Fleury can play better than Murray at this point and that is where the discussion ends.
Fleury last played on March 31st. You must be using the metric system. That’s closer to 1 month than 2.
Murray didn’t play all that well in game 5, although 2 of the 3 goals were scored on the PP. My argument is simple. If Murray gets shelled by Washington Tuesday night I don’t think you want to turn to Fleury for game 7. If there is any chance you feel the need to dress Fleury at all, far less on the line Tuesday & better to find out in game 6 with a game in hand if he’s capable than potentially putting him in for his 1st start in 5 weeks in game 7.
It’s moot regardless as Sullivan has said Murray will start game 6. If Murray gets shelled Tuesday, Pittsburgh will be in a terrible spot returning to Washington for game 7 trying to determine who to start in that game.
As for your concerns about Fleury’s abilities as a goalie. His Sv% this season for goalies to play at least 1/2 their respective teams games 41 was 8th overall. Shut outs, tied for 5th. He is & has been 1 of the best goalies in the NHL for at decade. by almost any measure you choose to use.
I’m not sure about the Boucher hiring. He can look intimidating with that scar when he stares down a ref. haha. But I can’t ever say I was a fan and I guess I will wait and see what he can do.
Do we fans really have any other choice but to “wait and see what he can do?”
Murray has already stolen one game in this series. Unless he somehow falls apart Tuesday, pulling him would be completely foolish.