The Tampa Bay Lightning took the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final with 5-1 and 3-1 victories. The Lightning in the process controlled all three zones and dominated every facet of the games. By all metrics, the Lightning look poised to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup and might steamroll the Canadiens in the process. This leaves the Canadiens at home with a must-win game. Likewise, they need to turn the momentum of the series and might need to win both home games or the series can be out of reach as well. How will they swing the momentum? How will the Canadiens even the series after looking hapless in the first two games?
Chip & Chase
The Lightning made it impossible to carry the puck into the offensive zone. They tend to control the center of the ice whether it be with a 1-3-1 or tightening the center with their defensive pairings. As a result, the Canadiens can’t carry the puck into the offensive zone on the odd-man rush, something they thrived with to reach the Stanley Cup Final. Moreover, the Lightning controlled possession with easy turnovers and pressure in the neutral zone.
The Canadiens must, more than anything chip the puck into the neutral zone and collect the puck in the offensive zone. Game Two saw them chip and chase late in the game but by then, it was too late. The only way they will establish an offensive zone presence is with the chip and chase. Moreover, the Canadiens need to control the puck in the offensive zone, making transitions all the more important.
The question is who on their roster can effectively chip and chase. This must be addressed in the upcoming game in multiple ways. The first priority is having a center like Phillip Danualt or Tyler Toffoli controlling the puck in the neutral zone to send it down the ice. Afterward, the speed on the wings needs to take over, Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki must get to those pucks. Overall the team needs to break the Lightning initial pressure in order to find scoring chances.
Shots Through Traffic
Controlling the puck in the offensive zone is one thing, scoring is another issue. The Canadiens only scored twice in the first two games. Much of this has to do with Andrei Vasilevskiy, the Lightning world-class goaltender who can stop everything, it seems. However, a lot of the struggles have come from the inability to find an identity in the Stanley Cup Final offensively.
The Canadiens are being forced to shoot from the boards or through a swarm of Lightning skaters, resulting in poor shots for the offense. The open shots that they have been given but surprisingly aren’t taking are the ones from the point. The Canadiens defensemen can not only fire open shots from the point but they can get shots through traffic. Vasilevskiy isn’t going to allow any cheap goals rather the goals must be earned. A shot that isn’t seen through the swarm of bodies, a redirected puck, will help the Canadiens find the back of the net. This is a series that Shea Weber and Jeff Petry need to win and they must step up with shots through traffic.
Playing a Tight Box Defensively
The Canadiens have player relatively well on the defensive end of the ice. They’ve faced the full force of the Lightning offense and have remained disciplined. Ultimately, that is the key for the Canadiens defensively. In a game like this, it’s easy to want to play with an edge. Moreover the team might want to aggressively forecheck and create turnovers to set up the offense. The Lightning thrive on space and puck movement, making an error all the more costly.
The Canadiens must press the center of the ice, forcing the Lightning to play on the wings. The Canadiens have done a great job limiting Brayden Point in the center of the ice and can’t allow him to find open shots. Likewise, the defensemen need to force the tough angle shots. Goaltender Carey Price has done a great job keeping the Canadiens in these Stanley Cup Final games but isn’t receiving the help from the defense. As a result, the Canadiens need to force shots from tough angles that can turn into easy saves.
