When the NHL decided to resume their season, many Tampa Bay Lightning fans thought they would finally see Steven Stamkos return to the lineup in time for a Stanley Cup Playoff run. Unfortunately, their star forward has yet to step foot on the ice.
Stamkos played his last game on February 25th. He had surgery on a core muscle injury on March 2nd, ten days before the NHL suspended their season due to coronavirus.
Amid Tampa Bay’s playoff run, forward Brayden Point has asserted himself into the void that Stamkos left while making a case for the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Point’s 25 points in 18 playoff games ranks second in the NHL. He also ranks tied for first in even strength goals during this playoff run, showcasing his ability to provide offense for a team loaded with scoring options.
During Tampa Bay’s run to the Stanley Cup, Point transformed into one of the clutchest players in the NHL. It started with the first game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs when Point deflated the Columbus Blue Jackets by scoring a goal off a rebound in the fifth overtime. Point would also end the series in Game 5 with another overtime goal, allowing the Lightning to rid their demons of their first round exit from last year.
In the second round against the Boston Bruins, Point led his team in points with seven in five games, six of those came by assists, which shows his ability to get his whole team involved.
Point displayed his importance to the Lightning in the two games they didn’t play during the Eastern Conference Finals. The New York Islanders wins came when Point was not in the lineup due to a lower-body injury. In the four games Point played in, the Lightning outscored the Islanders 16-5.
Point’s pairing with Ondrej Palat and Nikita Kucherov has created a dominant first line. The line has combined for 64 points, 37% of their team’s total scoring.
Now, the Lightning find themselves back in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2015, where they face the Dallas Stars. Much of Tampa Bay’s success will depend on Point’s health, but the 24-year-old forward from Calgary has identified himself as a mainstay for a potent Lightning offense.
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