Jon Cooper discussed at length the character and especially this desire of the Lightning players to go to the end of their resources.
“Tonight, this group showed once again that they represent the perfect example of what our team is. Lightning players never give up. They scored the first goal. They regained the lead 2-1 on the power play. They scored the winning goal with just under seven minutes remaining in the game. They took advantage of the opportunities and they defended themselves with pride and incredible determination. »
The Lightning coach summed it up nicely.
His side are trailing 2-3 in this series, but they still pulled the chestnuts out of the fire despite the absence of Brayden Point, their best centre. She manages to neutralize the Avalanche’s offense with specialists like Anthony Cirelli, competing despite an injury.
She punches Nathan MacKinnon at every opportunity.
And she relies on a keeper taking his game up a notch in big matchups as the training season draws to a close.
Bednar lost the match
Friday night, Andrei Vasilevskiy was brilliant.
Darcy Kuemper has been marginal.
And Jared Bednar made some amazing decisions.
When your team is down by one goal, when your team still has the chance to tie the game and win the championship in front of raucous fans, claiming the Stanley Cup, sometimes a coach has to pull a rabbit out of his hat.
With less than four minutes left in the game and both teams looking to regain their energy to complete this very high-level duel, on the restart, put into play in Lightning territory, Bednar used support skaters.
At the bank, MacKinnon, Landeskog, Rantanen, Kadri …
The Avalanche need a goal, time is running out. Aren’t they the ones who can make the difference?
A few seconds later, communication error on the Colorado bench, penalty: there are too many players on the ice.
With just under three minutes on the clock, the Lightning have a territorial advantage and an extra player. This experienced, relentless team will not miss the opportunity to pass the time, play with caution and, above all, control the puck.
Meanwhile, Bednar persists in using his specialists to kill time outnumbered.
Hey, time is just the Avalanche’s worst enemy, and what does Bednar have to lose if he uses his best offensive numbers to take on the Lightning even though it’s a four-on-five battle?
It is often said that coaches can sometimes make a difference during the playoffs.
Cooper won his match.
Bednar lost his.
And Vasilevskiy, as expected, is the one who could thwart the opponent’s plans.
He did it another time.
The Avalanche players needed Kuemper’s support knowing full well that the Lightning had no intention of slowing down, it didn’t happen.
But beware. Vasilevskiy is intimidating. And when given the opportunity to be at the top of his game, he usually doesn’t turn down such an invitation…even when his training mission seems like an impossible one.
Next…
Luke Richardson deserved this opportunity. Leading a National League team was his dream. The Chicago Blackhawks, an organization in full reconstruction, gave him the heavy mandate to ensure that the business model would work. He learned his skills and, over the past few years with the Canadiens, he has successfully taken up several challenges.
He fulfilled a strategic role within the organization, including teaching and mentoring the many young advocates of the formation. He succeeded.
Now, who will fill this position? The candidates are numerous, and it will be above all up to Martin St-Louis to choose the one on whom he will bet to ensure the progress of the young people and also on whom he will turn to obtain appropriate advice.
Are we going to take advantage of the organization’s decision-makers to discuss with St-Louis that the hiring of an assistant with extensive National League experience should be considered? A former head coach, for example?
Or will we direct the search to specialists, ex-defenders capable of communicating with members of the defensive brigade, ex-defenders who can quickly gain the trust of skaters?
The Canadian is embarking on a new business model. We want to relaunch the concession by not neglecting any element. The defenders’ next coach is part of the equation. Kent Hughes has often stressed the importance of developing young players, helping them to showcase their talent and thrive in the face of fierce National League competition.
The Canadian relies heavily on young defenders recruited in recent years. He will now have to find the most qualified person to fill this position.
Trotz: that was to be expected
If Barry Trotz seems determined to take a year off, it’s simply because he can’t find an employer willing to give him added powers.
When he left the New York Islanders, hadn’t he insisted that he would take his time, that he was going to study everything that was offered to him and then he would decide?
He added: “I would really like to get involved in the day-to-day management of the team, I would like to have the opportunity to participate in all the discussions and also to have an impact on the hiring or the transfer of the workforce. . »
The Jets no doubt offered him a contract acknowledging all that he has accomplished in the past. But what do the Jets have to offer roster-wise?
An interesting team, with good elements, but a formation that has lost its luster for three years. Was Trotz convinced that the situation would improve? We have to believe that we did not succeed in convincing him and that he would not find what he is looking for in Winnipeg…