Game 3 of a 1-1 series can sometimes be considered a “swing game”, especially for the home team. Having a possible three of the next possible five games at home can be a huge lift, with not only the environment but match-up preference. That’s what made this particular game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals such an important game for both teams, especially the Detroit Red Wings, coming off of a 5-1 loss in Tampa on Saturday.
Of course, the Lightning, playing like the better team the first two games, looked at this as a chance to regain home ice and take control as the favorite in the series with all the weapons they have. Goaltender Ben Bishop played better in game 2, stopping 23 of 24 shots and providing a reassuring sign for the team after letting in three on 14 shots in game 1. Tyler Johnson netted two and the Lighting looked like the highest scoring team in the league, entering the offensive zone with relative ease and capitalizing on their opportunities.
With the series shifting to Detroit, on the Red Wings’ side of things, head coach Mike Babcock thought the team had “A lot more to give” than what they showed in the first two contests.
“The thing I would say when you evaluate our team, we have a lot more to give. The other thing is at the end of the year until now there were nine days for two games. Now you have to play (practically every other day). We need everyone on deck. We can’t be one on or one off. We need everyone on board.”
With the defense reeling in games 1 and 2, the team went into game 3 with a change. Brendan Smith for the young and steady Alexey Marchenko, paired up with partner Marek Zidlicky. This also saw the return of the Kyle Quincey-Danny Dekeyser pairing, a mainstay for most of the season. Up front the Wings got a big boost with the return of power forward (still love saying that) Justin Abdelkader, paired with Henrik Zetterberg and Gustav Nyquist. His name would be mentioned a few times to say the least in game 3.
Babcock’s changes and message were felt from the onset.
Playing stifling defense and limiting Tampa to 22 shots, the Wings “looked like a real hockey team” according to their head coach, regaining the lead in the series at a 2 games to 1 edge with a 3-0 win.
So, after the third contest, where does the series stand?
For the Lightning, it’s about staying with what has made them successful all season. They have outshot Detroit 98-59, despite losing 2 of 3 games. What is troubling for them is the power play. A 2/17 efficiency for a powerplay that has weapons by the names of Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, Johnson, Ondrej Palat, Ryan Callahan, (etc.) is a little unsettling.
Speaking of Stamkos, the Lightning captain has just two assists in three games played. Being the 2nd leading goal scorer in the regular season with 43, the 24-year old former first overall pick has challenged himself, receiving some confidence from his coach Jon Cooper at the same time.
“I just think, personally, I’ve got to be better, like all of us. I’ll continue to compete hard, and we’ll try to get back to what we did well in the first two games.”
-Steven Stamkos
“Does Stammer wish he has a goal or two in this series? For sure. Do I think Detroit will keep him down for the whole series? I don’t. It’s just a matter of time.”
-Jon Cooper
For as much as Detroit and goaltender Petr Mrazek looked dominant defensively in game 3, the Lightning did have some opportunities that they did not bury. Could it be a sign of things to change with some puck luck, or a bad omen for the rest of the series?
In terms of lineup changes, Cooper is sticking with what he’s penciled in for the first three games for the pivotal game 4.
Cooper says #TBLightning lines will remain unchanged for Game 4. No update on Garrison.
— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) April 22, 2015
It’s clear the team misses an experienced blueliner like Jason Garrison and his bomb from the point. He had four goals and 30 points on the season, third most out of the Tampa defense. 22-year old Nikita Nesterov has been a pleasant surprise from the back-end, netting a goal and three points so far this playoff in his absence playing with Anton Stralman, who had 39 points in the regular season.
For the Red Wings, it’s building on each performance. After being outshot 46-14 in game one, the Wings played significantly better despite losing 5-1 and being outshot 30-24 in game 2. They put it all together in the third contest, turning in possibly their best all-around team performance since beating the same Lightning team 4-0 on March 28th.
Detroit and Petr Mrazek put up the goose egg again, and the 23-year old goaltender is the only goalie to shutout the highest-scoring team in the league this season, let alone do it twice.
“I felt great. I think we played real well defensively today and guys helped me there so much and the huge part was the PK for us. Huge win for us, first game home, first win. But it’s over. We have to look for Thursday now and we have two games more.”
-Petr Mrazek
Speaking of his teammates, the team had a huge lift from Justin Abdelkader, playing his first game in six. The 28-year old power forward had a sweet dish onto the stick of Riley Sheahan for the 2nd goal Detroit would score, and he threw his body around. A lot. The presence of Abdelkader gives Detroit something that they have lost to injury over the season, a big body to play in the top six. As seen when Lightning forward Cedric Paquette tried to dump his goaltender in the third period of game 3, he is not afraid to stand up for his teammates. The former Michigan State Spartan had a career season with 23 goals, and he could be a huge x-factor in Detroit taking a commanding lead in this series with his return.
The Tony Granato penalty kill has been very efficient, killing 17/19 opportunities, but the alarming number here is 19 penalties taken in three games. Chances are the Lightning will capitalize sooner or later and Detroit cannot have Luke Glendening and Drew Miller working overtime every single game.
With Detroit being at home, Mike Babcock has the advantage of picking and choosing the matchups. The Drew Miller-Luke Glendening-Landon Ferraro line against the “triplets line” of Ondrej Palat-Tyler Johnson-Nikita Kucherov has been an ideal pairing and has worked so far. The line as a whole has combined for two goals(both by Johnson in game 2) and three points(Assist by Kucherov), with Glendening in the face of Johnson every time he gets a chance. The Justin Abdelkader-Henrik Zetterberg-Gustav Nyquist line has been solid against the Alex Kilhorn-Steven Stamkos-Ryan Callahan line, holding Stamkos goalless and limiting the line to six points, a goal(Kilhorn in game 2) and two assists each. Pavel Datsyuk has been nothing short of brilliant against the Lightning captain, including holding him to a 23% possession game in game 3. It is vital for Detroit to take advantage of this while they can.
Riley Sheahan, Tomas Tatar, Tomas Jurco and Gustav Nyquist combined for zero points in last year’s five game series loss to the Bruins. Jurco scored in game 1, Tatar tallied in game 2 and Sheahan the latest one in game 3. As a whole the young group has combined for five points in three games. Darren Helm is happy to be back for playoff time after not playing in two of the last three playoff years, and his presence is noticed in more ways than his two assists so far. Pavel Datsyuk is leading the way again, with two goals and three points, providing the wizardry the hockey world and the Red Wings love to see.
In the grand scheme of things, there’s still a lot to be decided in this series. Game 4 puts the series in a big-time perspective for both teams. With a win, the Lightning would enjoy the luxury of having two of the last possible three at home in a best-of-3 setting. No need to remind you that the team led the league in home wins with 32. If Detroit wins, they’re in the driver’s seat. A 3-1 series lead against a team virtually everyone was picking over them? Detroit VS Everybody at its finest. With the calming influences of Pavel Datsyuk, captain Henrik Zetterberg, and Niklas Kronwall along with young talent back for a second go-around, it would be a very ideal situation in looking to move on.
However, at the moment, it is still a 2-1 series with a hockey game to be played Thursday evening. A desperate Lightning team looking to get back to their game against a Red Wings team looking to put a stranglehold on the series.
…Wait, did both teams switch roles before this play?
Quotes courtesy of Bryan Burns, DetroitRedWings.com, NHL.com, and The Detroit News
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