The Montreal Canadiens are going to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1993. Who will they face? We’ll all find out tonight, because we have the two best words in hockey coming up: Game 7.
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Friday’s game
Game 7: New York Islanders at Tampa Bay Lightning | 8 p.m. (series tied 3-3)
The Islanders — and their fans — gave it everything they had in Game 6. They may need even more in Game 7. Tampa Bay hasn’t lost consecutive playoff games since getting swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2019. In fact, the Lightning are 13-0 following a loss over the past two years.
The big storyline for Tampa: will Nikita Kucherov play? The playoff points leader was injured on an uncalled cross-check early in his first shift in Game 6, and didn’t return. The Lightning didn’t have an update on Thursday. “We played 56 games without [Kucherov],” coach Jon Cooper said. “Usually, we have 12 forwards when we play without him, so that probably made it tougher on us when we had 11. But we’ve gone down this path for four months. It’s nothing new for us.”
The Isles are getting a star turn from Mathew Barzal, who set up both of New York’s goals in regulation in Game 6. “You get to a Game 7, you know what’s at stake,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. You play all year to get to this point. You get one opportunity.”
About last night
Montreal Canadiens 3, Vegas Golden Knights 2 (OT) (Canadiens win 4-2)
The Canadiens entered the playoffs with the worst record of any team in the field (a .527 points percentage). Caesars Sportsbook listed Montreal at +3500 to win the Cup. “Honestly we wouldn’t be here right now if we didn’t believe,” goaltender Carey Price said. “We always kind of stuck with it, not doubting ourselves.”
The Habs’ 1-3-1 system — specifically the shutdown line of Phillip Danault, Artturi Lehkonen and Brendan Gallagher — stifled the Golden Knights’ offense, a key storyline throughout this series. So it felt appropriate Danault and Lehkonen teamed up for the series-clinching goal in overtime.
Vegas is now left wondering what could have been. The Golden Knights have now gone to overtime when facing elimination for the third consecutive season, and have lost all three games. “This is one of the best, if not the best teams I’ve played on,” said defenseman Alec Martinez, who won two Stanley Cups with the Kings. “To come up short is disappointing.”
It was an especially rough series for the Vegas power play (0-for-15) and captain Mark Stone, who had zero points. Stone said he was not playing injured. “I got skunked in this series,” the Vegas winger said. “That can’t happen. I’m the captain of this team. I’m the leader of this team. I take a lot of responsibility for what just occurred.” Full recap
Three stars of the night
Artturi Lehkonen, LW, Montreal Canadiens
The gritty forward had an excellent series, and took a pass from Phillip Danault in overtime to clinch the series.
“This is the time of the year that real playoff battlers come alive and those two guys have really shown through,” interim coach Luke Richardson said. “It was fitting for our team, the way we play — we play hard defensively, and try to do all the right things defensively — it was fitting for them to get the winning goal.”
And here it is, the goal that sends the @CanadiensMTL to the #StanleyCup Final.
Bravo, Artturi Lehkonen (@arsilehkonen)! pic.twitter.com/LfHHQCdfgz
— NHL (@NHL) June 25, 2021
Carey Price, G, Montreal Canadiens
The goalie made 37 of 39 saves (.949 save percentage) to help his team advance. The 33-year-old will now play in his first Stanley Cup Final. Price is 12-5, with a .934 save percentage in these playoffs.
Carey Price leads his team to the Stanley Cup final.
How does he celebrate?
By saying how proud he is that his mom was re-elected chief of her FN, while dropping some of his traditional language. #GoHabsGo #Habs pic.twitter.com/s3QWNPzDu8
— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) June 25, 2021
Cole Caufield, RW, Montreal Canadiens
What more is there to say at this point about the Canadiens’ super rookie? He was a healthy scratch to begin the playoffs, then had four goals in the semifinal series, including another beauty in Game 6.
well well well…. pic.twitter.com/HCmOBntFXA
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) June 25, 2021
Social media post of the day
Robin Lehner is the rare professional athlete who is honest about his Twitter use (he admitted to doom scrolling ahead of Game 4 for motivation). But social media doesn’t always have to be rooted in negativity. The goalie, who made 29 saves, took to his keyboard just minutes after the loss to express gratitude.
Congrats to @CanadiensMTL for a hell of a series. Best of luck in the finals. Tough loss tonight but proud of how hard everyone worked this season. We are right there. We will come back better. Thanks to all the people who has supported us this year. @CP0031 good luck too you.
— Robin Lehner (@RobinLehner) June 25, 2021
Mood of the day
Phillip Danault has made it a tradition to bring pizza to a series-clinching press conference. On Thursday, he shared.
#Danault didn’t disappoint and he brought a slice for Caufield. pic.twitter.com/eWn02AkWxu
— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) June 25, 2021