Shortly before the puck dropped on Game 5 in Tampa Bay, the Lightning shared that forward Nick Paul wouldn’t play due to illness. 21-year-old Conor Geekie replaced him in the lineup, a scratch since Game 1 of the series against Montreal.
Paul has yet to find the score sheet in four games, but the 6’4” penalty killer hardly needs to. His effort and physicality always make an imprint on the game, especially in the postseason. Averaging 10:43 a night so far in the opening round, it’s a dip below his regular season average, as benches are shortened in what has been a neck-and-neck battle against the Canadiens. On the other hand, Geekie played 57 games in the AHL this year, but he offers high skill as far as 6’4″ bottom six depth options typically are.
For the grinder to miss such a pivotal game, it raises the question on if the Ontario native will be healthy again in time for Friday’s Game 6. Clearly missing Paul, the Bolts came up short tonight, and they’ll need a win back in Montreal to avoid a fourth consecutive first round exit.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Utah Mammoth forward Barrett Hayton has returned to the lineup tonight for Game 5 against Vegas, noted by Jesse Granger of The Athletic. It’s a pleasant surprise, as the 25-year-old hasn’t played since March 24 as a result of an upper-body injury. He’ll assume the role of third line center. Liam O’Brien is the odd man out. A beloved teammate, “Spicy Tuna” appeared in the series’ first three games, but did not play more than 8:11 in any of them. The fourth line grinder managed to add a helper, but with just four points all season, Utah has infused more speed and skill. The Mammoth kept their cards held tight as defenseman Nick DeSimone took warmups, hinting at a possible 11 forward, seven defensemen arrangement. Instead, Hayton is all set for his first playoff action since the COVID-19 playoff bubble six years ago with the Arizona Coyotes.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled goaltender Joel Blomqvist from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for emergency backup duty, as observed by Seth Rorabaugh of the Tribune-Review. Both Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner were good to go against Philadelphia for Game 6, but the 24-year-old prospect was on hand just in case of any unforeseen events prior to puck drop. The “Baby Penguins” start their AHL playoff run tomorrow, so it figures that Sergey Murashov will get the start there, the two splitting duties all season. Meanwhile, Blomqvist will at least enjoy getting to spectate a massive game as the Pens try to claw back to a Game 7 after being down 3-0 in the series.
Tampa in game 5 looked flat, out of rhythm in many portions of the game, disengaged, making odd mistakes, and lacked urgency most of the game. The fact the game was only 3-2 in the end is surprising in itself. It’s not that Montreal won the game, it’s more Tampa losing it themselves. This team is baffling at times as they just don’t seem interested in these games at various stages in these playoffs. It’s like they’re bipolar or something. It’s aggravating as a fan.
They look old. Time to send some of them to the nursing home
Come on, let it out. You know that you really want to somehow, some way, make your standard reach and blame it on the Panthers.
@jdgoat – Nah, it’s not age at all. The metrics, the margins, & such prove that theory wrong, greatly. Out of all the first round series, the Tampa/Montreal series has been the tightest on practically every statistical measure to the point it’s been considered a dead heat by the analytical experts. Tampa’s primary problem(s) has been consistency, urgency, & secondary support throughout this series. When Tampa has shown those 3 things in this series, they’ve won. In order for them to win, they have to want it. That’s what it comes down to in the end.
Regarding Tampa, see Pat Rile Quote
When a milestone is conquered, the subtle erosion called entitlement begins its consuming grind. The team regards its greatness as a trait and a right. Half hearted effort becomes habit and saps a champion.
This is what explains this team. I do not doubt they want to win again, they just do not have the fortitude to truly want it every night or for 60 minutes. They go on and off, up and down.
McDonough is a great player and human, but he can’t keep up any more. If I were Cooper, I sit Cernak, play Dastous. The team has NO flow when McDonough and Cernak play together. They can’t get out of their own end.
They went on a huge heater when Cernak, Hedman and McDonough were out, because they had defensemen who could skate and transition the puck the other way.
I have said this consistently over the whole season. Look at the record and results. I said it around the outdoor game, Cooper’s biggest challenge is managing his blue line when it was healthy.
And as an organization, please stop talking about all the cups and success you have had. That is all rear view looking. It is a new day. Play with some desperation and let the young guys take over.
Leading into game 6, will we see the same thing from Cooper or will he make the hard decision to sit Cernak?