It's the Canadiens and the Lightning
Looking back at their respective roads to the Stanley Cup Final, and some of the players who've made an impact along the way
© Jeff Bottari/Getty Images
By
Matt Cudzinowski and Pierre-Antoine Mercier @CanadiensMTL / canadiens.com
It's an interesting matchup between two clubs playing their best hockey at the most important time of the year.
Let's take a quick look at how Montreal and Tampa Bay got here, and explore a few key figures from either side.
The path to victory
The Canadiens have defied the odds all playoffs long to earn their first trip to the Stanley Cup Final since 1993.
They overcame a 3-1 series deficit against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, swept the Winnipeg Jets in four games in the second round, and ousted the heavily favored Vegas Golden Knights in six games in the third round during a remarkable run that has Habs fans hungry for more.
Tweet from @CanadiensMTL: Une soir��e que l���on n���oubliera jamais.A night we'll never forget.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/VCPQePWKhf
Dominique Ducharme's contingent clinched a spot in the Final on Thursday night at the Bell Centre when left-winger Artturi Lehkonen scored on Vegas goaltender Robin Lehner just 1:39 into overtime to send the 3,500 lucky fans in attendance, and essentially the entire city of Montreal, into a frenzy.
It was truly a Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day to remember.
Tweet from @CanadiensMTL: 🗣OL�� OL�� OL�� OL������������#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/itIYTHm66r
Putting up numbers
Right-winger Tyler Toffoli currently leads the Canadiens in postseason scoring with 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists), but linemates Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield are the club's offensive catalysts right now after registering a team-leading five points each against Vegas.
Caufield, in particular, enjoyed an excellent series versus Peter DeBoer's contingent, scoring four goals, including this highlight-reel solo effort on Thursday night that showcased the full extent of his skill and speed.
Tweet from @CanadiensMTL: COLE. CAUFIELD.Malade.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/PhAvobjbCb
The 20-year-old rookie has points in seven of his last eight games, so the Lightning must pay extra special attention to him whenever he's on the ice.
For his part, Suzuki's sensational passing ability could easily give the Canadiens' opponents fits in the battle for hockey's top prize.
The 21-year-old pivot's talent was on full display when he fed veteran Eric Staal for the decisive goal in Game 5 at T-Mobile Arena.
Tweet from @CanadiensMTL: Encore du beau travail de Suzuki.More good work from Suzuki.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/lRIOZwROGN
The Canadiens, however, could benefit from some more contributions from the back end.
Just two goals and 19 points have come courtesy of defensemen to date, including captain Shea Weber's power-play blast in Game 6 against the Golden Knights.
Tweet from @CanadiensMTL: Le capitaine prend les choses en main.The captain takes charge.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/bMJNFCWRUa
Short-handed? No worries
Any conversation regarding special teams and the Canadiens revolves around their penalty-killing units, which have been firing on all cylinders throughout the playoffs.
Montreal has killed off 30 straight penalties, which is why they own a League-leading 93.5% (43 of 46) success rate while minus a soldier.
The fearlessness of Weber and fellow blueliners Ben Chiarot and Joel Edmundson is a big key to the squad's success in that department, and so is the defensive prowess of forwards Phillip Danault, Joel Armia, and Paul Byron, among others.
Keep in mind that the Candiens have also scored a League-leading four short-handed goals in the playoffs, so there's little room for error by the opposition when they're enjoying a man advantage.
Tweet from @CanadiensMTL: En d��savantage num��rique!Shorthanded!#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/rX3vMsaKr4
Solid between the pipes
Price's numbers in the playoffs speak for themselves.
He has compiled a 12-4-1 record in 17 starts, along with a sparkling 2.02 goals-against average, a .934 save percentage and one shutout.
It's safe to say that the 14-year veteran is a man on a mission, and the Lightning know it.
Tweet from @CanadiensMTL: CAREY! CAREY! CAREY!#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/AojwXQpKb6
Price was a rock for the Canadiens in the series-clinching victory over Vegas, turning aside 37 of 39 shots.
And his family enjoyed every single stop, as well as the final outcome.
Tweet from @CanadiensMTL: Papa Price. 🥺#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/1LUhzhCCiw
Almost perfect
The defending champions are vying for their second straight crown and the third Stanley Cup in franchise history.
The Lightning defeated the Florida Panthers in six games in the first round, downed the Carolina Hurricanes in five games in the second round, and finally eliminated the New York Islanders in seven games to advance to the Final. Forward Yanni Gourde scored Tampa Bay's lone goal in a 1-0 triumph in the deciding against New York on Friday night.
Tweet from @TBLightning: Penalty kill ������Shorthanded goal ������Yanni Gourde celly ������������������ pic.twitter.com/blFrWhllz2
Jon Cooper's squad faced elimination only once in the playoffs - versus Barry Trotz and company.
In defeating New York, the Lightning claimed their fourth Prince of Wales Trophy, which is presented annually to the Eastern Conference champion.
Tweet from @TBLightning: SEMIFINAL CHAMPS 🙌#GoBolts pic.twitter.com/jKhjhZX3lp
An offensive powerhouse
Tampa Bay leads the NHL with 58 goals in the playoffs, and with good reason.
The Lightning boast the top five postseason point-getters, including right-winger Nikita Kucherov, who ranks first with 27 points (5 goals, 22 assists).
Tweet from @TBLightning: Four unanswered goals? Well, why not 🤷��������� pic.twitter.com/MFz23L7XJk
Brayden Point sits second in points (20), but his 14 goals in 18 games are a League-best. Prior to Game 7 versus the Islanders, Point was riding a nine-game goal streak. He was just the second player in NHL playoff history to accomplish the feat.
Tweet from @TBLightning: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/CRP7RloUVa
Captain Steven Stamkos (7 goals, 10 assists - 17 points), left-winger Alex Killorn (8 goals, 9 assists - 17 points) and defenseman Victor Hedman (1 goal, 15 assists - 16 points) round out the top five.
A constant threat
Discipline will be a top priority for the Canadiens because the Lightning power play has been delivering throughout the postseason.
Tampa Bay has scored a League-leading 20 power play goals, and their units are clicking at a 37.7% success rate (20 for 53).
Point leads the Lightning with seven power play goals, while Kucherov, Stamkos and Killorn sit second with four each.
Tweet from @TBLightning: Another game, another Pointer playoff goal ������ pic.twitter.com/gXIsGwzCcs
Tampa Bay has performed well while short-handed too, killing 44 of 53 penalties for an 83% success rate.
Cooper's contingent has also scored two short-handed goals.
Goaltending duel
Like the Canadiens, the Lightning have a dominant netminder in Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Vasilevskiy leads all goaltenders in the playoffs in goals-against average (1.99), save percentage (.936) and shutouts (4).
The 26-year-old Russian was at his very best in the Semifinal against the Islanders, compiling a 1.59 goals-against average, a .940 save percentage and two shutouts.
Tweet from @TBLightning: VASY. SHUTOUT. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ulatBAsVrX
Vasilevskiy has seen the most action of any goaltender in the playoffs with 1,085:37 of play.
