It’s time for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Let’s take a look at the top picks, plays and predictions.
| Lightning vs Penguins ML +171 / -190 O/U 5 |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
The Lightning tallied the first three goals of the first game in the series, a deficit that would prove to be insurmountable. Though the Penguins seemingly held control of possession, outshooting the Bolts 35-20 and out-attempting them 70-41, shots were essentially even through the first 40 minutes of play. It was only after Patric Hornqvist tallied a powerplay goal late in the second period that the Penguins took control of the game as Tampa shelled to protect their lead.
With less than two minutes to go in the first period, Victor Hedman did what he does best: find a seam up the ice. A perfectly placed stretch pass found Alex Killorn, who shook Olli Maatta off him and slipped a backhander under the left leg of Matt Murray.
Early in the second, with the Bolts on the powerplay, Ondrej Palat buried a backhander off a rebound as he was tumbling to the ice to put Tampa up by two.
The Penguins were caught up high because of the quick movement along the blueline on Tampa’s part.
Here, Matt Cullen and Carl Hagelin have been lured up ice away from the slot to defend a give-and-go from Valtteri Filppula (the shooter) and Jason Garrison at center ice on the blueline. Letang has his hands full clearing the crease, and Ian Cole goes down on one knee to try and block the shot. All alone in the slot is Palat.
With 1:35 left in the second, Valtteri Filppula broke up a Pittsburgh pass in the defensive zone and started a breakout. The second line was off and running. Palat found Jonathan Drouin across the ice for a one-timer. The puck seemingly disappeared once he unleashed the shot, which led to a hilarious non-call of the goal from Doc Emrick. Just like that, the Bolts were up 3-0.
Moments later, Pittsburgh got a powerplay opportunity. Phil Kessel was handcuffed by a pass down low. The puck caromed to the far mid-boards, where a slick pass by Evgeni Malkin found Patric Hornqvist. The winger who usually is down low to pick up the dirty goals wristed one through Andrei Vasilevskiy and the Pens got on the board.
It would prove to be their only goal despite a 16-shot onslaught in the third period.
Yes, you read that right by the way. Andrei Vasilevskiy saw most of the action in Game 1. Ben Bishop crumpled to the ground clutching his knee midway through the first period. A stretcher was called and he was escorted out of the rink. It was a freak play- no running the goalie, no contact. Just Bishop landing the wrong way.
Bishop is listed as day-to-day. Vasilevskiy is the “likely” starter according to LeftWingLock. The young Russian stopped 25 of 26 shots.
Vasilevskiy earned the win for Tampa Bay, his second career playoff victory. The other win came in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final last season, when he came in relief for Ben Bishop (twice) in the third period and was on the ice for what would be the game-winning goal.
Matt Murray is the confirmed starter for Pittsburgh, which I still assert is the best move for the black and gold. Tonight will be the true litmus test, as I fear another shaky outing will be the last we see of Murray with Marc-Andre Fleury waiting in the wings.
The odds-makers are not giving the Tampa netminder much respect, and they do not really have much reason to. Vasilevskiy has one career playoff start under his belt, and it is a losing decision. Couple that with the fact that Tampa will be on the road against a team that has not lost two consecutive home games since December 18th and 19th. It makes sense to lean heavily towards the Penguins.
Prediction: Take Pittsburgh to even things up tonight. Play the over.
