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Tampa Bay Lightning Win 2021 Stanley Cup Championship

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For just the second time since the turn of the century, the NHL champion reigns for a second consecutive season. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in Game Five at home on Wednesday night, cementing their back-to-back champion status after taking home the Stanley Cup in 2020 as well. Young Ross Colton scored the only goal of the game early in the second period and his teammates played tough defense to keep Montreal off the board for a shutout win to seal it.

The 2020-21 season was far different for the Lightning, though. In 2019-20, Tampa was a wire-to-wire favorite, leading the league in goals for and finishing second in goal differential, which earned them a share of the third-best record in the league. This year, the Lightning had their fair share of issues along the way, finishing only third in their own division and eighth overall in the league, falling to eighth in scoring and seventh in differential. Yet, in the postseason they were even better this time around than they were last year. In the 2020 playoffs, the Bolts recorded 3.08 goals for per game and 2.28 goals against per game, finished fifth in power play and penalty kill efficiency, and required extra time to win seven games. This year, Tampa Bay notched 3.26 goals for per game and led the postseason with 1.96 goals against per game, finished third and fourth respectively on the power play and penalty kill, and did not need overtime to win a single game.

Though it may not explain every difference between this season and last, it is hard to argue against the x-factor this season for the Lightning being Nikita Kucherov. Kucherov, the 2020 postseason scoring leader, missed the entire regular season after undergoing off-season hip surgery. While this cost Tampa one of the best players in the league, which could explain their regular season drop-off, the added salary cap space allowed the team to keep their championship roster together against all odds. Kucherov then returned to health in time for the playoff and again led the field in scoring – and by a wide margin. Having a fresh, energized Kucherov in the lineup was key to the Bolts’ success, especially as they faced several defensively skilled teams. While opinions differ on the integrity of how Tampa Bay managed Kucherov’s injury, the team stayed within the NHL’s rules and it led to a second consecutive title. While some may also argue that the Lightning’s back-to-back Stanley Cups came in the 2020 “bubble” playoffs and following a shortened 2020-21 season, it is difficult to see this roster not finding success under normal circumstances as well. Kucherov was followed in the 2021 playoff scoring race by four teammates – Brayden Point, Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, and Alex Killorn – to round out the top five, while Conn Smythe Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevskiy had the best goaltending numbers of the postseason and was clutch when it mattered most, including a shutout to clinch all four series. The likes of Ondrej Palat, Anthony Cirelli, and Ryan McDonagh were also phenomenal for Tampa.

As for the other Stanley Cup finalist, the efforts of the Montreal Canadiens were valiant and will not soon be forgotten. The team with the worst regular season record in the postseason stunned two top-five teams en route to a completely improbable and unforeseen trip to the championship round. They will get a chance at revenge soon – Tampa Bay and Montreal will be back together in the Atlantic Division again next season, alongside several other top teams.

Canadiens Make Several Lineup Changes Ahead Of Game 4

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Canadiens Sign Danick Martel To An AHL Contract

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  • The Canadiens have signed winger Danick Martel to a one-year AHL contract, per an announcement from their affiliate in Laval (Twitter link). The 26-year-old spent last season on a minor league deal with New Jersey, notching 14 points in 24 games with Binghamton.  Martel has 13 career NHL games under his belt between Philadelphia and Tampa Bay, last suiting up at the top level in 2019.

Snapshots: Jones, Flames, Ducharme

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As speculation around the now-constant Duncan Keith trade rumors intensifies, more clarity is coming around a potential return. A piece in the Edmonton Journal by David Staples starts off the party with the Edmonton Oilers. Jumping off earlier reports from both Elliotte Friedman and Bob Stauffer that the Chicago Blackhawks weren’t interested in taking on another big contract in exchange for Keith, Staples suggests defender Caleb Jones as a potential piece going to Chicago in exchange for Keith. With Chicago now being implicated in trade talks with Columbus Blue Jackets defender Seth Jones, playing with his brother may entice Seth to sign an extension if dealt to the Hawks. What is for sure is that it’s just the beginning of the inevitable rumors and speculation surrounding such big a name as Keith. As Chicago looks to move on from a franchise legend, what Chicago receives in return for Keith will be under intense scrutiny.

  • The Athletic’s Rick Dhaliwal, during his ’Donnie & Dhali’ radio show today, reports that the Calgary Flames weren’t identified by Keith or his agent as a potential trade destination. With captain Mark Giordano potentially being left unprotected for the Seattle expansion draft, it made sense that Calgary could be looking to acquire a veteran presence to replace Giordano on their blueline. However, considering the leverage Keith holds with his full no-movement clause, it appears as though Keith in a Flames uniform isn’t a true possibility come October.
  • Marc Antoine Godin, senior writer for The Athletic Montreal, relayed remarks made by Montreal Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme today ahead of his return to the bench for Game 3 after being sidelined for two weeks due to COVID-19. Reacting to the news that the Quebec provincial health authority would not allow more fans into the building, Ducharme commented that “it’s hard to find the logic” for not increasing the capacity from the existing 3,500 fans, especially due to the large crowds that have formed outside in recent games. It’ll be on Ducharme tonight to guide his team to a Game 3 win, despite the supposed lack of a true home-ice advantage.

Montreal Canadiens Head Coach Dominique Ducharme Expected Back For Game 3

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July 2: Ducharme is on the ice at today’s morning skate and is expected to be behind the bench this evening.

June 26: Some more good news came across the wire for Montreal Canadiens fans today. The team announced via Twitter Saturday morning that they expect head coach Dominique Ducharme to return behind the bench for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning. It will be Ducharme’s first game action since Game 2 of the team’s Stanley Cup Semifinal series versus the Vegas Golden Knights after a positive COVID-19 test sidelined the head coach for 14 days.

In Ducharme’s absence, longtime NHLer and Habs assistant coach Luke Richardson has taken over the bench. The Habs went a sparkling 3-1 with Richardson at the helm, losing one game due to a Nicolas Roy overtime winner. Richardson’s knowledge of the current roster, having been an assistant coach with the team since 2018-19, has proved instrumental in helping Montreal return to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1993.

This current playoff run has been somewhat of a renaissance for Ducharme himself. After a rocky 15-16-7 finish under Ducharme’s tutelage, Montreal entered as the worst team by standings’ measure in the playoffs. As the interim bench boss, it was rather unlikely that he’d be retained as the head coach at the season’s end. However, it’s impossible to ignore what Ducharme and Montreal have put together over the past few weeks, especially after dispatching two of the league’s top teams in Vegas and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

It certainly won’t be a cakewalk for Montreal, Richardson, and Ducharme as they prepare for a battle against the defending Stanley Cup champions, with Game 1 Monday night in Tampa. Ducharme will wait eagerly for his return to the Bell Centre for Game 3 on Friday night.

Montreal Canadiens Won’t Get More Fans For Stanley Cup Final Games

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The Montreal Canadiens’ public relations department announced today that despite rumors, there won’t be an increased fan capacity for Montreal home games in the Stanley Cup Final. There was widespread hope of being able to increase the attendance limit to 10,500 spectators, or around 50 percent capacity. Instead, the Habs will remain with just 3,500 fans allowed in the building to watch Games 3, 4, and a potential Game 6.

An announcement was expected from either Montreal or the health department of Quebec today after the Tampa Bay Lightning announced they’d be opening up full capacity from Game 2 onwards. Now, it appears as such the Habs won’t be getting a similar boost. Fans at the Bell Centre for tonight’s watch party voiced their displeasure, booing loudly as the capacity limitation was announced on the broadcast.

With only 3,500 fans allowed in the building for Montreal’s last game, Game 6 against the Vegas Golden Knights, even more people were gathered outside of the Bell Centre in order to watch and eventually celebrate Montreal’s win. It ended up creating a dangerous environment outside. TVA’s Renaud Lavoie reported after the game that the Bell Centre had been put into a lockdown, due to the zone outside being declared by a riot zone by the city.

For the team, though, a playoff run without a full house hasn’t mattered. Montreal owns a 5-3 record on home ice in these playoffs, and haven’t lost in regulation at home since Game 4 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. With the result of Game 2 pending, Montreal’s success in Games 3 and 4 may be absolutely necessary if Tampa emerges victorious again at home. It won’t be anything new for the Habs, who didn’t even play with fans in the stands until the playoffs started. As they gear up to attempt to win their first championship since 1993, they’ll continue to do it in a limited-capacity environment.

Shea Weber Fined For Slashing

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The Department of Player Safety has decided that Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber will not face a suspension, but does have to fork over a few dollars. Weber has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for his slash on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov last night.

As Kucherov glided past the Montreal net, Weber delivered a slash to the back of his leg that sent the Lightning forward tumbling into the corner. There was no penalty on the play and Kucherov did not suffer a serious injury. A fine will go on Weber’s supplementary discipline record though, meaning in deciding punishment for any future incidents, this will be taken into account.

Just yesterday, commissioner Gary Bettman addressed the concerns expressed by many fans over the level of officiating in the playoffs this season, by saying that the NHL has “not only the best hockey officials in the world, they are the best officials in any sport.” It is these incidents that do not go penalized on the ice that frustrate so many fans, given they result in supplementary discipline afterward.

Seven penalties were called in a 5-1 Tampa Bay Lightning win on Monday. It will be interesting to see if this fine draws any increased attention on Weber from the referees in game two Wednesday night.

Montreal’s Joel Armia Cleared From COVID Protocol

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June 28: Armia was not present at morning skate, but is on a private jet to Tampa according to interim head coach Luke Richardson. Armia has been cleared from the COVID protocol and is a game-time decision. Evans was a full participant and is no longer wearing a non-contact sweater, according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet.

June 27: On the eve of the Stanley Cup Final, the Montreal Canadiens have issued some bad news. Forward Joel Armia was absent at practice on Sunday morning and without any previous indication of injury, the speculation began. GM Marc Bergevin confirmed the prevailing theory to the media afterward: Armia is in COVID Protocol.

Bergevin did not reveal any additional details, but an update is expected on Monday. In the meantime, Armia did not travel to Tampa with the team for the first two games of the series. Whether it would be an option for him to travel separately if cleared from the protocol remains to be seen. This is now the second time that Armia has landed on the COVID Protocol Related Absences list, following a previous stint in March. At that time, he tested positive and the Canadiens had a number of games postponed. So far, there has been no indication that Armia’s current situation will impact the Stanley Cup Final schedule.

Of course, the current concern with interim head coach Dominique Ducharme testing positive last week and sidelined for 14 days, is that Armia’s status could be more than just a case of a false positive or close contact. If Armia is positive for COVID, it would mean the end of his season with just seven games left in the NHL year. Armia, who only recorded 14 points in the regular season, has taken his game to the next level in the playoffs. He has eight points in 17 games and is tied for the team lead in goals. The presence he brings to both the third line and penalty kill will be sorely missed if he cannot play at all in the series. The Canadiens hope that tomorrow’s update will bring different news.

The thin silver lining of the report today is that Jake Evans appears primed to step into Armia’s spot in the starting lineup for the time being. Evans has not played since being injured in Game One of the North Division title series with the Winnipeg Jets, but appears to have made a full recovery from the massive check that knocked him out. Despite the scoring presence lost by Armia, the Habs seems more interested in replacing his two-way ability with Evans than adding an offensive asset like Tomas Tatar. 

Montreal Canadiens Extend Forward Brandon Baddock

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Their surprise run to the Stanley Cup Final is not stopping the Montreal Canadiens from continuing to look toward the future. Even with the series set to begin tomorrow, the front office is hard at work today. Montreal has come to terms on a new contract for forward Brandon Baddock, the team announced. The 26-year-old forward had been slated for Group 6 unrestricted free agency again this off-season, which is how the Canadiens were able to sign him last year in the first place, but will instead stay put with this extension.

While Baddock did not actually suit up for Montreal this season and has yet to play in the NHL at all in his five-year pro career, his new deal does represent a raise. This is partially due to the increase in the league’s minimum salary, as Baddock will go from $700K this year to $750K in 2021-22. However, the Habs also increased his AHL salary from $110K to $150K and guaranteed him $175K even if he again is held out of NHL action.

Why the promotion for a 26-year-old with no NHL experience and little AHL production? Despite his seemingly unimpressive resume, Baddock was actually a name that drew a fair amount of interest as a free agent last off-season after walking away from the New Jersey Devils – and none of it has to do with his offensive ability. The 6’3″, 221-lb. forward plays a heavy checking game, is a fearless defensive player, and isn’t afraid to drop the gloves. Baddock led the AHL in penalty minutes in 2018-19, finished fifth in 2019-20, and has at least 100 PIM in each of his three full AHL seasons. While the NHL has largely moved away from these enforcer types, Baddock spent time on Montreal’s taxi squad this season and they were ready to let him loose on the league. Other teams had the same idea in mind last off-season as well. Baddock will never be more than a fourth liner in the NHL at best, but there is value in having a menacing physical presence on call to plug into the lineup. If Montreal wins the Stanley Cup, they will be public enemy No. 1 next season and now will come prepared if the opposition want to try to push them around.

Poll: Who Will Win The 2021 Stanley Cup?

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The 2020-21 NHL season has been an adventurous one and that’s putting it lightly.  From a delayed start to rapid in-season scheduling changes, there have been plenty of hiccups along the way but they managed to make it through the abbreviated regular season schedule and the first three rounds of the playoffs.  Included in the schedule this season, of course, were new divisions with the end result being that a team that’s normally in the East won the trophy that typically goes to the winner of the Western Conference.  In a year like this though, there have been stranger things than that.

In the end, there are just two teams remaining.  One is the defending Stanley Cup champion that many expected to be in the mix to win it again.  The other is a team that lost more games than it won during the regular season and virtually no one expected them to make it anywhere near this far.

Let’s start with Tampa Bay.  The defending champs added a healthy Nikita Kucherov to the mix for the playoffs after he missed the entire season due to hip surgery and he hasn’t missed a beat; his 27 points not only lead the team but lead the entire league in scoring so far.  Brayden Point just had a nine-game goal stretch snapped in Friday’s series-clinching victory over the Islanders and the end result is an attack that is averaging the second-most goals per game of any playoff team at 3.22 (Colorado was first, averaging 3.8 in their two series).  They’re also one of the stingiest defensive teams with Andrei Vasilevskiy pitching four shutouts already.

As for Montreal, they’ve won with a balanced lineup that has taken turns scoring just enough in key moments to get them over the top.  Cole Caufield – who was playing college hockey three months ago – has turned into a key cog offensively while Nick Suzuki has elevated his play in the playoffs for the second straight year as well.  Carey Price is playing some of the best hockey of his career and their penalty kill has been nothing short of outstanding.  They haven’t allowed a power play goal in 13 games – an NHL playoff record – and have killed off 30 straight opportunities (outscoring their opponents 3-0 along the way).

That theme may very well be the most interesting one of the series (even more than the goalie matchup) – Montreal’s dominant penalty kill versus Tampa Bay’s elite power play which is clicking along at a whopping 37.7%.  While there haven’t been a lot of penalties called in the playoffs, special teams have been game-changers for both teams so far.  Will that trend continue for one of them?

It’s a unique Stanley Cup matchup, one that we’re unlikely to see again since the league is going back to its usual conference format for 2021-22 and beyond.  Which team will come out victorious?  Will the Lightning make it two in a row or will the Canadiens pull off one more upset?  Make your prediction by voting in the poll below.

Mobile users, click here to vote.

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