Tonight the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning will match up in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final. If you told me before the season the Rangers would 4 wins away from a Stanley Cup Final appearance, I would have laughed at you. The Lightning on the other hand were supposed to be here. The back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions are looking to win their 11th straight playoff series. To help preview the series 20+ year Lightning reporter Erik Erlendsson sat down with me on The Broadway Hat Podcast. We discussed the major storylines and keys to victory in the series.
Comeback kids did it again
For the second consecutive series, the Rangers were able to come back and win a series in Game 7. They are now 5-0 these playoffs in elimination games. This Rangers team motto of #NoQuitInNY could not be truer. All year long this team has been resilient and defied the odds. The Rangers absolutely dominated the Hurricanes in Game 7 on the road. A place they had only scored 2 goals in the 3 games they played to start the series. Not only did the Rangers double that total in Game 7 they completely took the crazy Carolina crowd out of it with two first-period goals. The Rangers need to bring that Game 7 momentum back to New York with them.
Shesterkin vs Vasilevskiy
Shesterkin vs Vasilevskiy, the two best goalies in the world are going head-to-head in the Eastern Conference Final. Lightning reporter @Erik_Erlendsson talks about that matchup and more in our series preview!
— The Broadway Hat Podcast (@Broadwayhatpod) June 1, 2022
Episode Link⬇️https://t.co/m1FkcAnQqr#NYR #NoQuitInNY #GoBolts #NHL pic.twitter.com/9i1VlhD6q0
The two best goalies in the world are set to go toe-to-toe. As Lightning reporter Erik Erlendsson put it, “it’s Andrei Vasilevskiy vs Andrei Vasilevskiy Jr.” The two phenomenal Russian goaltenders had their struggles in their First Round series but lead their teams to Game 7 victories. In the Second Round, both goalies were unbelievable. Vasilevskiy completely shut down the Florida Panthers who led the NHL in goals this year. The Lightning swept the Panthers and Vasilevskiy posted a 0.75 GAA and a .981 SV%. Igor Shesterkin on the other had posted a 1.72 GAA and a .949 SV%. Igor has also made 74 more saves than any other goalie during the playoffs. He is averaging 33.8 saves a game. The Western Conference might have the goal scorers, but the East is all about the goalies.
Brayden Point Injury
What is the latest injury update on Brayden Point? Check out this week's @Broadwayhatpod interview with @Erik_Erlendsson as he gives an update on his status for the ECF series.
— Kyle Hall (@KHallNY) June 1, 2022
Episode Link⬇️https://t.co/lxc0my8LOa#NYR #NoQuitInNY #GoBolts #stanleycup #HockeyTwitter #NHL https://t.co/YjH0YPotJJ
A huge question coming into this series is the health of Lightning star Brayden Point. Point got hurt in Game 7 of the Lighting opening-round series and has not returned to the game action since. He did participate in Tampa Bay’s optional skate Wednesday morning at MSG, but it did not look like he was close to full speed. The Lightning were able to sweep the Panthers without him, but Point has been a major factor in the Lightning’s back-to-back championships. In his 6-year NHL career, he has already played in 74 Stanley Cup Playoff games and has 77 points in those games.
Special Teams
This is the key to victory in the series. If the Rangers can keep their high-powered power play going they will have a good chance at advancing. If the Lightning can continue their improved penalty killing and shut the Rangers down they should win this series easily. Tampa Bay took the second-most penalties in the regular season, averaging 4.2 a game, and that number has gone up in the playoffs to 4.69 per game.
The Rangers have been heavily reliant on their power play unit all year, scoring 25.2% in the regular season and that number has jumped up to 32.5% in the playoffs. Tampa Bay killed only 80% of their penalties in the regular season but has improved to 87.8% in the playoffs. Can Tampa stay out of the box? Can the Rangers continue to cash in on power play opportunities? These answers might determine whose playing for the Stanley Cup next round.
Players to watch
Mika Zibanejad
Zibanejad has been the Rangers most consistent forward. His 19 points are the 3rd most in the playoffs and his 4 power-play goals are tied for the most. He has been the Rangers best faceoff man, which isn’t saying much, winning 49.3% of his draws. The Rangers (41%) and Lightning (45%) both struggle in the dot so if Mika can win faceoffs that can be huge for the Rangers.
Adam Fox
Fox has been the best Rangers player in the playoffs. Igor was outstanding in Round 2, but since the opening game, Fox has brought it. The reigning Norris Trophy winner is putting on a show. His 18 points are the 4th best in the playoffs and lead all defensemen. He also has 10 points on the power play which are the most of any player in the playoffs. His average ice time of 26:48 led all active skaters in the playoffs. Fox needs to continue to control play for the Rangers to upset the Lightning.
Ross Colton
The Lightning second-year forward has already become a hometown playoff hero. As a rookie last year he scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal and this year he scored a last-second goal against Florida to win a game. The kid has a knack for the dramatic. Colton also grew up a Devils fan and said he “had disdain for the Rangers.” Colton has 5 goals in 11 games during the playoffs and with Point misses more time the Lightning will need to depend more on him to carry some of the scoring load.
Nick Paul
In my interview with Erik Erlendsson, he raved about the addition of Paul. Paul who was acquired at the deadline from the Ottawa Senators has stepped into center Tampa’s second line. Similar to Zibanejad, Paul has been relied on as Tampa’s most trusted faceoff man. He has taken a team-high 102 faceoffs, which is nearly double anyone else and is winning 46.3% of them. Paul also has been a major boost to the Lightning penalty kill. He has helped the team improve from an 80% kill percentage to an 87.8% in the playoffs.
Reaves vs Maroon
Two of the best heavyweights in the NHL will be lining up against each other. Together the two have been involved in just about 150 NHL fights. They dropped the gloves earlier this year and I wouldn’t be surprised if they did it again this series. The chirping between these two I am sure will start immediately during warmups for Game 1 and will continue all series.
Series Prediction
This series will come down to goaltending and special teams. Igor Shesterkin has put those two bad games in Pittsburgh far away in his rear-view mirror and is rolling right now. Vasilevskiy was great last round so which goalie blinks first? I think the Rangers take advantage of the Lightning’s tendencies of taking penalties and cash in. With home-ice advantage give me the Rangers in 7.
Be sure to bookmark our hockey page for hockey coverage and follow Belly Up Hockey on Twitter: @BellyUpHockey. Follow me on Twitter for more takes on the New York Rangers and USA Hockey: @KHallNY. You can also listen to my NY Rangers podcast The Broadway Hat Podcast on Apple Podcast and Spotify for Rangers news and interviews with past and current players.
