The Presidents' Trophy winners find themselves staring down a 3-0 deficit in their opening-round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets after dropping Game 3 by a score of 3-1. Despite this, Lightning head coach John Cooper sees a silver lining.
"There was a lot of positive energy in that room after the third period," Cooper said after the game, according to FOX Sports Florida. "Adversity hits in different ways and we haven't had a lot of it during the regular season and we have it now. We had adversity going into the third period and I thought we responded well and we've just got to carry that on.
"As far as I know, we're playing Tuesday, right? So, we're still alive."
After a lackluster opening 40 minutes, the Lightning outshot the Blue Jackets 17-8 in the third period. Team captain Steven Stamkos alluded to that as a possible turning point while preaching a one-game-at-a-time mentality.
"We pushed. We pushed hard. If anything, maybe we found a recipe to break some of their structure there," Stamkos said, according to Bryan Burns of the Lightning's official site. "Obviously, it wasn't good enough.
"We've got to win a game, just win a game, get it back to Tampa," he said. "It's tough right now, but we just have to find a way. There's nothing to save it for right now. We just have to win the next game and see where it takes us."
The Lightning - who tied the NHL record with 62 wins this season - are the first team to win the Presidents' Trophy and go down 3-0 in a first-round series since the Vancouver Canucks in 2012. Only four teams in history have recovered from such a deficit, with the last being the 2014 Los Angeles Kings, who went on to capture the Stanley Cup.
ST. LOUIS (AP) Kyle Connor and the Winnipeg Jets got back on track by sticking to the same way they wanted to play all along.
Connor scored twice, Patrik Laine had a goal and an assist, and the Jets beat the St. Louis Blues 6-3 on Sunday night to climb back into their first-round playoff series.
Winnipeg dropped the first two games at home. But they were one-goal games, and Connor felt the Jets just needed a few minor tweaks.
Looked pretty good in St. Louis.
''As a whole, we played the right way for (the first) two games,'' Connor said. ''Tonight, it was nice to have everyone contribute.''
Kevin Hayes, Brandon Tanev and Dustin Byfuglien also scored for Winnipeg, and Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves.
Game 4 of the best-of-seven series is Tuesday night in St. Louis.
''We're building every shift, every game throughout the series,'' Connor said. ''We're getting close to our game and it's pretty dangerous.''
David Perron, Vladimir Tarasenko and Alexander Steen scored for the Blues, and Jordan Binnington made 23 stops.
Perron put St. Louis in front with a power-play goal late in the first period. He whipped a shot past Hellebuyck from the slot.
But the Jets grabbed the lead for good when they scored three times in a span of 4:01 in the second.
Hayes started the blitz with a shot from the point that went through traffic before slipping past Binnington. Laine then scored his third goal of the series, converting a pass from Jacob Trouba.
Connor capped the blitz with a power-play wrist shot from the faceoff dot at 8:58. He added an insurance goal 14:44 into the final period.
''It was just a matter of time,'' Hayes said. ''It's a start.''
St. Louis had a chance in the third, pulling within one when Tarasenko scored a power-play goal just 1:51 into the period. But Tanev and Byfuglien responded for Winnipeg, running its lead back out to 5-2 with 11:54 left.
''Tonight was not really our team, obviously,'' Perron said ''We weren't happy with our effort. We didn't play a good game. But we've got to give them credit.''
Laine, who had 30 goals and 20 assists in the regular season, has scored in all three playoff games. He had just one goal in his last 19 regular-season games.
Laine scored five goals in an 8-4 win in St. Louis on Nov. 24, 2018.
''We just stayed within our game and tried to play it simple,'' Laine said. ''We got going and just tried to keep our foot on the gas the whole 60 (minutes).''
Hellebuyck made a big stop on Pat Maroon just seconds before Tanev's goal.
Binnington made a trio of saves in the opening 5:45 to keep the game scoreless. He denied Bryan Little, Hayes, and Mathieu Perrault. Binnington stopped 50 of 54 shots over the first two games.
''The biggest thing is we didn't play our game tonight,'' Tarasenko said. ''It was not our best game out there. It's on us, and we'll handle it tomorrow.''
NOTES: Blues D Robert Bortuzzo suffered a cut on his hand that required seven stitches in the third period of Game 2, but played on Sunday. ... Winnipeg is 1-10 in playoff games decided by one goal, including a 1-4 mark last season. ... The Blues failed on their first seven power-play attempts in the series prior to Perron's first-period goal. ... The Jets were the last team in the playoffs to record a third-period goal.
UP NEXT
Game 4 of the series is set for Tuesday night in St. Louis.
The 28-year-old has been offered an in-person hearing, which gives the league the option to suspend him for six games or more.
Kadri caught Boston Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk with a cross-check to the head with around six minutes remaining in the third period of Game 2. He was handed a five-minute major for cross-checking and a 10-minute match penalty.
DeBrusk didn't play another shift and commented about the hit after the contest.
"It's up to the league to decide, to be honest. I got no comment. I did a series of tests. I'm just hoping they come back negative. It's all kind of a blur, to be honest. From what I remember, it was high. I felt it in my face," DeBrusk said, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox.
Kadri was not made available to the media following the game.
The center has a long history of supplemental discipline, including a three-game suspension against the Bruins in the 2018 playoffs for boarding forward Tommy Wingels.
Before his ejection, Kadri scored the lone goal in the contest for the Maple Leafs. The Bruins picked up the 4-1 victory to even the best-of-seven series at one game apiece.
The Lightning took a 3-0 lead into the first intermission only to have the Blue Jackets storm back with four unanswered goals to steal the game. Despite the disappointment, Stamkos says the defeat was a learning experience that players can benefit from.
"We got a 3-0 lead at home in the playoffs, that should be done and over with. If anything we learned a lesson tonight. We’ll be a lot better," Stamkos said according to Lightning beat reporter Caley Chelios.
Tampa Bay scored a league-high 325 goals this season and looked well on its way to a blowout victory in front of an electric home crowd. Following the contest, head coach John Cooper admitted the Lightning veered away from their game plan after gaining the lead early on.
"Our mentality was we wanted to outscore them instead of build the lead and shut them down," Cooper said.
The Lightning boasted a 31-1-2 record during the regular season when leading after the first period.
Boston Bruins forward David Backes will not be in the lineup Thursday for Game 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs as the veteran has been declared a healthy scratch for the first time in his postseason career, according to The Athletic's Joe McDonald.
Head coach Bruce Cassidy had a long conversation with Backes following Tuesday's practice to inform the 34-year-old of his decision, McDonald added. He understands that to get back into the lineup, the team will likely have to suffer an injury or go on a losing skid.
"The shitty part is for me to get back in there are three things that would need to happen potentially and none of them are really good," Backes said. 'You’re trying to be a good teammate and hoping that the team has success and wins games, but I want to win a Cup too and if that means I’m sitting some and other guys have a chance to produce then I’ll grab the pom-poms for when I need to."
Backes has seen his point total decrease in five consecutive campaigns and recorded a career-worst 20 points over 70 games this season.
After being listed as a healthy scratch earlier this year, he discussed his role on the club with his head coach. The 6-foot-3 Backes responded by using his size and toughness to remain in the lineup, dropping the gloves on several occasions.
"It gave us real common ground for the rest of the regular season," Backes said. "I thought we were at a place where I was very understanding of what was asked of me and going out there and doing it. I hope, and still hope, I can provide that in the playoffs as well. But, he’s going with a more speedy, faster type of lineup against the Leafs in Game 1 and he’s not finding me fitting that mold."
Backes has recorded 27 points over 49 career playoff contests but contributed just three points in 12 games last spring.
The New Jersey Devils won the NHL Draft lottery on Tuesday night to lock up the 2019 first overall selection.
The Devils will make the first pick for the second time in three seasons after drafting Nico Hischier in the top spot in 2017. The pick also marks New Jersey's fourth top-10 selection this decade.
Taylor Hall was part of many draft lottery parties during his time with the Edmonton Oilers, and he had some fun on social media after his team secured yet another top pick.
They talk about Gretzky’s 92 goals or Sittler’s 10 pts in one game as records that may never be broken. But winning 5 draft lotteries in your first 9 years in the league? In 2 different draft lottery eras, no less. That is a record that will stand forever.
The Colorado Avalanche entered the night with the highest odds to land the No. 1 pick (18.5 percent). But Colorado fell to the fourth spot after the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks jumped into the top three.
The Rangers will draft in the top ten for the third consecutive season, but the team hasn't selected this high since 1966. The last time the Blackhawks owned the third overall pick was 2006 when they selected future captain and three-time Stanley Cup champion Jonathan Toews.
Here's a look at the complete draft order from picks one through 15.
Before you fill out your postseason bracket, we break down one key matchup across five first-round series that could make or break a team in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup.
The Leafs were tormented by the Bruins' top line in their seven-game series last postseason. Bergeron and Co. controlled possession, posting a Corsi rating of 64.90, and dominated Toronto in high-danger scoring chances at five-on-five, 49-26. An encouraging note for the Leafs is that the Corsi number dropped to 54.84 when matched with Auston Matthews and shot up to 75 when going against Tomas Plekanec - suggesting the trio dominated much of the play against a veteran player who is no longer in the league.
Looking at the regular season, both Matthews and Bergeron were out of the lineup for two of the teams' meetings this season, so we'll have to see how the coaches choose to deploy their top talent with the pair back in the mix.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Islanders
Goaltending vs. star power
Mike Stobe / National Hockey League / Getty
The Islanders claiming home-ice advantage was key, but perhaps their biggest edge sits between the pipes. Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss combined to capture the William M. Jennings Trophy this season, and their dominant play must continue for the team to be successful against the Penguins' offensive arsenal.
Though neither netminder has a ton of playoff experience, the job will likely be Lehner's to lose. Since returning from injury on March 19, the 27-year-old has posted a 5-2 record with a .942 save percentage.
Barry Trotz's club allowed a league-low 191 goals on the campaign and posted a record of 38-2-2 when scoring at least three times in a game. Led by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, the Penguins boasted the fifth-best offense this year and rostered four players with 70-plus points.
Pittsburgh mustered 13 goals in four games against the Islanders during the regular season, with Crosby and Malkin combining for eight points.
Calgary Flames vs. Colorado Avalanche
Can 'Johnny Hockey' outperform MacKinnon?
Rob Marczynski / National Hockey League / Getty
Calgary's Gaudreau and Colorado's MacKinnon each notched a career-high 99 points this season. Though they play different positions up front, the two will be a joy to watch compete as they best embody the speed and skill that will be on display in this series.
The All-Stars have no problem facing the pressure of playoff hockey, either, as MacKinnon has tallied 16 points in 13 career contests, with Gaudreau posting 11 points in 15.
Both men know how to deliver when it matters most, too. "Johnny Hockey" racked up 39 points and 17 goals in the third period or overtime this season, while MacKinnon contributed 37 points and 15 goals in those clutch moments. When the game is on the line, look for one of these two studs to follow through.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Stingy penalty kill vs. Electric man advantage
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Special teams will heavily influence this matchup between one of the greatest regular-season teams ever and a franchise looking for its first playoff series victory.
The Lightning's power play was lethal this season, clicking at a league-leading rate of 28.2 percent. The Blue Jackets, on the other hand, deploy the NHL's top penalty kill.
The Lightning and Blue Jackets posted similar possession numbers with Corsi ratings of 51.59 and 50.21, respectively. The more even-strength hockey Columbus can play, the better its chances of pulling out the upset - in the regular season, the Lightning erupted for six power-play goals on 11 attempts in their three victories over the Jackets this year.
St. Louis Blues vs. Winnipeg Jets
Battle in the crease
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
This Central Division clash is about as even as any playoff series on the slate. The Jets won 47 regular-season games and sported a goal differential of plus-28, while the Blues won 45 contests and were plus-24. Both teams finished with 99 points, but what may ultimately separate the two in this series is the play in the crease.
The Blues netminder was one of the best stories of the season. In 32 appearances, Binnington posted a .927 save percentage and an unbelievable 1.89 goals-against average en route to setting a franchise record for wins by a rookie goaltender with 24. The 25-year-old has yet to face the Jets this season, perhaps to the Blues' advantage.
Hellebuyck was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy last season but will need to regain his form in a hurry after taking a step backward this year. The 25-year-old won 10 fewer games and saw his goals against average spike from 2.36 to 2.90.
With two netminders trending in opposite directions, goaltending will be the deciding factor in this series.
McDavid suffered a leg injury during the Edmonton Oilers' final regular-season game of 2018-19 on Saturday while crashing into the goal post at full speed. Though the franchise talent had to be helped off the ice, Rishaug says the injury isn't believed to be too serious.
X-rays on McDavid's knee came back negative, and the 22-year-old was scheduled to have an MRI on Sunday. The results won't be known for a couple of days.
McDavid has represented Canada on the World Championship stage twice (2016 and 2018). This season, the two-time Art Ross Trophy winner recorded a career-high 116 points, joining Wayne Gretzky, Dale Hawerchuk, and Mario Lemieux as the only players in history to notch three consecutive 100-point campaigns at age 22 or younger.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are officially heading back to the postseason after defeating the New York Rangers 3-2 in a shootout.
Friday's result also officially eliminates the Montreal Canadiens from playoff contention for the third time in four years.
General manager Jarmo Kekalainen went all-in at the trade deadline to bolster his team's odds at advancing deeper into the playoffs. The Blue Jackets remain the only NHL club without a postseason series victory.
Columbus has now reached the playoffs in three consecutive seasons after making it just twice over its first 15 campaigns.
The Colorado Avalanche locked down the last remaining playoff position in the Western Conference on Thursday by earning a point against the Winnipeg Jets, eliminating the Arizona Coyotes.
Colorado owns the last-place Ottawa Senators' first-round pick, giving the club the rare distinction of competing in the postseason while boasting the highest odds at landing the No. 1 pick at the NHL draft.
The Avalanche will make consecutive postseason appearances for the first time since 2004-2006 and will look for their first series victory since 2008.
Colorado can still move into the first wild-card spot if it wins its final contest and the Dallas Stars lose each of their two remaining games in regulation.
