Tronna, ON – It’s the last week in June and hockey is still going. Last night the Tampa Bay Lightning won Game 5 in Denver to stay alive. The series now moves back to Tampa for Game 6 tomorrow night. It’s been an entertaining series so far. The Lightning, looking to win a third Stanley Cup on the trot, have been outmatched for long stretches this series. But they’ve found a way to stay in games and have been able to punch back at the right time.
The Avalanche have been bolstered this series by the return of Nazem Kadri from injury. Kadri scored the winner (with a little help from the refs) in overtime in Game 4 to give the Avalanche a commanding series lead and put them one win away from hoisting Lord Stanley’s Cup for the first time in 21 years.
Tomorrow night’s Game 6 should be fierce with the Avs trying to put the series to bed and the Lightning trying to keep hopes of a third Cup in a row alive. Neither team has had very good goaltending this series. The Lightning have a clear advantage in net with Adrei Vasilevskiy, but the 27-year old Russian has not played up to his potential so far this series. Vasilevskiy is still capable of stealing a win for the Lightning and he may have to in games 6 and 7.
At the other end of the ice, the Avs are rolling with 32-year old Darcy Kuemper who hasn’t had a great series either. He has played well enough to get the Avs within one win of the championship. It’s been a long season and a grueling postseason and players on both sides are exhausted. We’re at the point where a lucky bounce or a fortuitous call or enough gas for one more odd-man rush could seal the series. Game 6 is tomorrow night and, if the Lightning win, Game 7 will be Tuesday night in Denver. Whichever way it goes, it has been a great playoffs and a great season.
