The Tampa Bay Lightning are going to the Stanley Cup Final after a 1-0 win in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Semifinals. Despite an injured Nikita Kucherov playing Game 7, the Lightning were able to find a way to win the game. The Lightning will now play the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Final, which begins Monday night.
Tampa Bay Lightning Win Advance To Stanley Cup Final
Lightning Dominate Period One, Islanders Keep It Scoreless
The first period of Game 7 was dominated by the Lightning. Tampa Bay was in the Islanders defensive for most of the period. The Lightning outshot the Islanders 14-5. They were trying to put the game away early as the Islanders were trying to survive period one. New York did not want the same thing to happen as it did in Game 5. The Lightning exploded for three goals in period one of Game 5. Those three goals put Game 5 away. The Lightning created more high danger scoring chances and only Semyon Varlamov was there to prevent goals from going in. Varlamov had to come up big on Victor Hedman on a breakaway. Then again on Erik Cernak on a wrap-around attempt and Alex Killorn on a point-blank chance in the slot.
The Islanders survived the period by not taking any penalties as well. That was big for their confidence. New York had a couple of scoring chances, but Andrei Vasilevskiy was there to answer the bell. None bigger than a save on a deflected shot by big game Brock Nelson.
Lightning Strike After Dominating The Second Period
The game did not remain scoreless for long. With the Islanders on the power play, Yanni Gourde opens scoring with a shorthanded goal. It was the first short-handed goal the Islanders gave up all season. The play is set up by Ryan McDonagh, who blocks two shots and is patient with the puck coming out of the zone. He sends it through the middle to Killorn, who got the puck to Anthony Cirelli. Cirelli found Gourde off the bench for a 1-0 lead. After making it 1-0, the Lightning looked for more. They continued to attack the Islanders pinning them in their own defensive zone again. This time the Lightning outshot the Islanders 12-6 in the second period. Also, the Lightning did not give the Islanders much offensively either. Again if not for the play of Varlamov, Game 7 could have gotten out of hand quickly.
Closing The Third Period Out
It was more of the same from the Lightning as the third period began. They continued to dominate play over the Islanders. Tampa Bay was determined to get back to the Stanley Cup Final and defend their title. Champions step up when the pressure mounts the most. That is exactly what the Lightning did. Vasilevskiy continued to stand tall for the Lightning. The Islanders created some good looks but the Lightning were able to limit the rebound opportunities on Vasilevskiy. Islanders forward Mathew Barzal had a glorious look with the net wide open and the puck jumped over his stick. With the goaltender pulled the Lightning survived a flurry to win Game 7.
Notes: Vasilevskiy is the first goalie in NHL history with three series-clinching shutouts in a single playoff year. Brayden Point’s nine-game goal streak came to an end. Also, the Lightning are 6-0 in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs following a loss.
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