2020 Stanley Cup Final: Dallas Stars vs Tampa Bay Lightning | TBL leads 2-1

[notDatsyuk]

I'm not 100% sure (I don't personally have all the camera angles), but it looked like in last night's 5-2 win, every Lightning goal except 1 (the 5th goal - a rebound put-back) went in low blocker side against Khudobin. Like Tampa may have found a weakness in his net coverage.

The second (Stamkos') was high blocker, right under the crossbar. At least two were low blocker.

 

[VVP]

Tampa played amazing hockey in games 2 and 3, they managed to raise their game and Dallas didn't. The series is also as physical as I have ever seen, I can't believe both teams can continue this type of hockey for a long time. If Dallas is to turn it around they need to remove Seguin from the first line, he is the one dragging this line down where Tampa has a legit number 1 line. That was the difference in games 2 and 3.

 

[PaulGG]

Bowness said they need to figure it out. Dallas unsuccessfully tried to win the mental and physical game with the hits. They also have tried to open up the game and that isn’t working either. I expect they may try to defend, clutch and grab and counter like Isles and keep scoring low.
All pressure on Dallas now.

 

[Voight]

Suspend him for the series. Shameful and disrespectful. Cannot believe the league is going to allow this.


/s just in case

Why do they keep allowing guys like him to play in the league?

 

[Donnie D]

I'm a neutral fan in these finals. Are you actually making the claim that the Lightning players are diving? Wow.

They were an interference and 2 hooking calls. On the 2 hooking calls, the Tampa player didn’t go down.

he needs to pick another excuse.

 

[nbwingsfan]

If Dallas wants any shot at this theu NEED Seguin to figure his game out

8pts and 2goals in 23 games is completely unacceptable for a #1C of his talent and paycheck.

You know your play is bad when Dallas fans are defending him by bringing up a play where all he did was stay onside

Hes one of the worst playoff performers of our generation so far.

 

[PaulGG]

Radulov looks fine, or at least as good as his ugly mug can look.

He has a nice tooth.. left

 

[DownIsTheNewUp]

Bowness said they need to figure it out. Dallas unsuccessfully tried to win the mental and physical game with the hits. They also have tried to open up the game and that isn’t working either. I expect they may try to defend, clutch and grab and counter like Isles and keep scoring low.
All pressure on Dallas now.

I don’t envy Bowness because I think Tampa really has learned to play every style well. They had the run and gun style down for years but this year they committed to learning better defensive structure and the tight checking game. Series is far from over, but I think Dallas’ best chance really comes down to making less mistakes than Tampa does.

 

[Hockeyholic]

Still think Dallas is better 5 on 5. If they stay out of the box, they'll win this series imo. In game 1 they proved they were better 5 on 5.

 

[Kcb12345]

Still think Dallas is better 5 on 5. If they stay out of the box, they'll win this series imo. In game 1 they proved they were better 5 on 5.

That's a big if though. Lot of guys on this team that get called on purely based on their reputation

 

[AD1066]

If Dallas wants any shot at this theu NEED Seguin to figure his game out

8pts and 2goals in 23 games is completely unacceptable for a #1C of his talent and paycheck.

You know your play is bad when Dallas fans are defending him by bringing up a play where all he did was stay onside

Hes one of the worst playoff performers of our generation so far.

He's injured, isn't he?

 

[nbwingsfan]

He's injured, isn't he?

If hes good enough to play then he should still be producing more than this. Plenty of elite players are playing injured and not doing this poorly.

This is a common trend with him in the playoffs. Hes produced at about a 35pt pace in the playoffs tbrough 85 games

 

[Hockeyholic]

That's a big if though. Lot of guys on this team that get called on purely based on their reputation

They can't beat Tampa by playing a 2011 Bruins type game. Tampa isn't soft enough. And they'll take advantage on the pp. In otherwords, Dallas can't win by overpowering the Bolts.

They need to mix up their lines. And possibly look at playing a trap style system. Force TB to beat said trap. Or go run and gun style against Tampa. And hope you outscore them.

But yes, that would mean Seguin & Benn pick it up.

This is all easier said than done.

Their goalie needs to step it up too. I realize TB is better than any team they've faced. But a few more saves could make the difference. Can't be giving up three and four goals.

 

[jcaulfield8]

Still think Dallas is better 5 on 5. If they stay out of the box, they'll win this series imo. In game 1 they proved they were better 5 on 5.

I thought I read somewhere that Tampa is out shooting the stars 77-40 in 5v5.
I didn’t double check it but If true it doesn’t seem they’re better 5v5

 

[Hockeyholic]

I thought I read sonewhere that Tampa is out shooting the stars 77-40 in 5v5.
I didn’t double check it but If true it doesn’t seem they’re better 5v5

It seems TB's chances aren't as dangerous 5 on 5. But of course...a team like TB doesn't need many chances to score.

I hope it's obvious now Vegas wouldn't have lasted more than five games against Tampa. Not unless Lehner went god mode. That series would've been a massacre.

 

[Kcb12345]

I thought I read somewhere that Tampa is out shooting the stars 77-40 in 5v5.
I didn’t double check it but If true it doesn’t seem they’re better 5v5

They're outshooting them but the scoring chances are very close. Generally how Stars games go and probably how Tampa games go too

 

[The Macho King]

They're outshooting them but the scoring chances are very close. Generally how Stars games go and probably how Tampa games go too

Scoring chances are based on distance from the net. A Kucherov shot is dangerous even if it isn't from a "high danger" area.

 

[PaulGG]

Tampa two shut down lines have so far limited Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn to zero points. Dallas will surely mix up that top line as they are ineffective.

 

[PaulGG]

They're outshooting them but the scoring chances are very close. Generally how Stars games go and probably how Tampa games go too

Tampa is +18 and Dallas -3 in these playoffs.

 

[CupsOverCash]

Still think Dallas is better 5 on 5. If they stay out of the box, they'll win this series imo. In game 1 they proved they were better 5 on 5.

I think that will be difficult considering the style they play. If they dont want to go to the box they better stop interfering and grabbing guys when the puck isn't nearby. I've seen them hit tampa players when the puck isn't close to them. You can't do that but i see it as their way of slowing down tampa. You could see their frustration when called like "what the hell are we supposed to do".

They have to find a way to slow tampa down without taking penalties. Basically it comes down to whether the refs will let them get away with that or not. Tampa has also gotten better at dealing with it because that was a way to beat tampa for a long time. Use that size to slow them down. We have adjusted since the sweep last year. I agree I think they will have to stay out of the box to win this series.

 

[mojograde]

If Dallas wants any shot at this theu NEED Seguin to figure his game out

8pts and 2goals in 23 games is completely unacceptable for a #1C of his talent and paycheck.

You know your play is bad when Dallas fans are defending him by bringing up a play where all he did was stay onside

Hes one of the worst playoff performers of our generation so far.

It's been confirmed that he's playing with significant injuries

 

[mojograde]

If hes good enough to play then he should still be producing more than this. Plenty of elite players are playing injured and not doing this poorly.

This is a common trend with him in the playoffs. Hes produced at about a 35pt pace in the playoffs tbrough 85 games

It's difficult to produce with a wrist injury that in the regular season would side-line any player

 

[PaulD]

Dallas needs to play some outstanding hockey on Friday.

Didnt see much of that tonight.

Stars first line need to play some outstanding hockey.

They have shit the bed for 3 games and the team is still very much in the series.

 

[PaulD]

Tampa played amazing hockey in games 2 and 3, they managed to raise their game and Dallas didn't. The series is also as physical as I have ever seen, I can't believe both teams can continue this type of hockey for a long time. If Dallas is to turn it around they need to remove Seguin from the first line, he is the one dragging this line down where Tampa has a legit number 1 line. That was the difference in games 2 and 3.

Sure they can. Boston and St Louis did it for 7 straight games in last years final.

 

[PaulD]

If Dallas wants any shot at this theu NEED Seguin to figure his game out

8pts and 2goals in 23 games is completely unacceptable for a #1C of his talent and paycheck.

You know your play is bad when Dallas fans are defending him by bringing up a play where all he did was stay onside

Hes one of the worst playoff performers of our generation so far.

He has struggled in past play offs where the play goes up to another level.

Gretz used to say there are 3 levels in the NHL

Regular season hockey
Play off hockey
Stanley Cup finals hockey.

Seguin would quietly agree Im sure.