Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round Two, Game 1

[Harbingers]

"The Central Division champion Carolina Hurricanes open their Second Round series against the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning.

Game 1

(3) Tampa Bay Lightning (36-17-3, 75 points) vs. (1) Carolina Hurricanes (36-12-8, 80 points)

Sunday, May 30, 5 p.m.

Watch: NBCSN

Listen: 99.9 FM The Fan, Hurricanes.com/Listen, Hurricanes app

Numbers to Know

5: Sebastian Aho scored two goals, including the deciding goal in overtime, in Game 6 of the First Round. Aho finished the series with five goals, ranking tied for most in a single series in franchise history.

3-0: The Canes were 3-0 in the First Round with Jaccob Slavin in the lineup and just 1-2 without him.

18: Cedric Paquette won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2020. He missed the last six games of the regular season with a lower-body injury and did not play in the First Round, though he was available. Will he see game action against his former team? If so, it won't be because of that sole reason.

"You want to get him in because I know he's effective, but to your point, who are you taking out? At this point, we're playing pretty well, and I like how the group is going," head coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "There's a good chance he'll get in here. With the way things go, very rarely do you get through a whole couple series without guys getting nicked up. He's ready to go if we need him."

The Opposition

On the road (regular season): 15-10-3
CAR vs. TB: 4-3-1
Leading scorer (regular season): Brayden Point, 48 points (23g, 25a) in 56 games
Leading scorer (playoffs): Nikita Kucherov, 11 points (3g, 8a) in 6 games

The Lightning claimed the first-ever Battle of Florida, eliminating the Panthers in six games in the First Round. The return of Nikita Kucherov bolstered Tampa Bay's already prolific offense. The Russian winger, who missed the entirety of the regular season, led the NHL in First Round scoring with 11 points (3g, 8a) in six games."

https://www.nhl.com/news/tampa-bay-lightning-carolina-hurricanes-series-preview/c-325055270?tid=325048026

https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/game-1-projected-lineup-tampa-bay-lightning-carolina-hurricanes/c-325085580

"With Niederreiter's status in mind, here is the projected lineup for the Hurricanes.

Forwards

McGinn-Aho-Teravainen
Niederreiter-Trocheck-Necas
Svechnikov-Staal-Foegele
Martinook-Lorentz-Fast

Defensemen

Slavin-Hamilton
Skjei-Pesce
Bean-Hakanpaa

Goalies

Nedeljkovic
Mrazek

Scratches: Bibeau, Gardiner, Geekie, Keane, Lajoie, McCormick, McKeown, Paquette, Reimer, Ryan, Shore, Suzuki"

 

Ok, big leagues time. Get physical and score early.

[Harbingers]

@zacka77ack @TrevorLaurenceTime22 Y'all going? Rock that house if you are.

[Harbingers]

 

[Stumpy]

3 hours ago, Harbingers said:

Forwards

McGinn-Aho-Teravainen
Niederreiter-Trocheck-Necas
Svechnikov-Staal-Foegele
Martinook-Lorentz-Fast

Am I the only one that loves splitting up Aho & Svech?

They are both so good, and such good friends, that they tend to defer too much to each other when on a line together. Putting them on different lines allows them a little more selfishness that will benefit the team in the playoffs, imo.

Also having another big guy like Svech who can actually score will be huge for the 3rd line. 

[kungfoodude]

16 minutes ago, Stumpy said:

Am I the only one that loves splitting up Aho & Svech?

They are both so good, and such good friends, that they tend to defer too much to each other when on a line together. Putting them on different lines allows them a little more selfishness that will benefit the team in the playoffs, imo.

Also having another big guy like Svech who can actually score will be huge for the 3rd line. 

McGinnis is hot. Curious to see how that line works too.

[kungfoodude]

We look sharp early. I like it.

[zacka77ack]

2 hours ago, Harbingers said:

@zacka77ack @TrevorLaurenceTime22 Y'all going? Rock that house if you are.

Game 5 is the game I am looking at going.

Necas had Vaseline BEAT!

[Proudiddy]

Wow.  We look like a totally different team so far.  These shots on goal are all such good chances compared to most of what we were putting on goal last round.  I had to look if we were on a power play for like 3 straight minutes lol bc we just sat in their zone shooting for that long...  it's incredible.  We have them on their heels early.

[kungfoodude]

We keep getting high caliber chances and their goalie is letting up rebounds. 

If we can bang one in, I think the floodgates open.

[Anybodyhome]

Like these lines. Energy is good and living in TB zone. All good.

[zacka77ack]

My goodness!

[kungfoodude]

Want a goal in this period, though. It will suck to not have capitalized on all this momentum. 

[Proudiddy]

Anyone think this is a result of matchups or TB is that worn down from their super physical series with FLA?

[Stumpy]

Aho is playing like a man possessed, so far. Ned with a few great plays and we've gotten The Greasy One moving off his spot. Ithink we're catch him out of position soon.