Mishkin's Extra Shift: Avalanche 3, Lightning 2 - OT - Game 4
Radio broadcaster Dave Mishkin recaps Tampa Bay's overtime loss to Colorado in Game 4
Let's start with the OT, which lasted 12:02. The Avalanche thoroughly dominated the extra session, but won the game after Nazem Kadri - the winning goalscorer - came on the ice well before a changing Nathan MacKinnon. A first overtime period in the playoffs is just like the second period, when a team's net is across the red line from its bench. So it's the period of the "long change". This also means that, for a team going on the attack, it's the period of the "short change". Kadri jumping on early meant that the Avs had an even greater advantage with the short change.
For much of overtime, the Avs effectively used the long/short change to control play. They owned nearly all of the puck possession, which forced Lightning players into long, extended defensive zone shifts. Consequently, the Lightning often couldn't get fresher skaters on the ice. Tired players are more likely to make mistakes and the Lightning yielded a handful of dangerous looks to the Avs. The line change problems also meant that the Lightning enjoyed very little offensive zone time themselves. Overtime shots finished 11-3 and attempts were 18-8, both in favor of Colorado. (Even those lopsided numbers might be generous to the Lightning.) The Avs had several close calls, including firing one shot off the post and another off the crossbar. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 10 overtime saves, many of which were high-quality stops.
But prior to overtime, the Lightning put together what was likely their best game in the series. Their team defense held the Avalanche in check more effectively than in any of the earlier three games. During regulation time, the Avs were at their most dangerous during two power play opportunities, one of which yielded their first goal. Their tenacious forecheck did create some turnovers and led to extended o-zone shifts, but the Lightning kept most of the shot attempts to the outside. The case can be made that the Avs created more dangerous chances during overtime than they did for the entire 60 minutes that preceded it. This is almost certainly the case if the power play time is excluded. Meaning that the Lightning dug in defensively and did well to keep the Colorado attack in check. And they did it, from the early part of the second period on, with only five defensemen. Erik Cernak had to leave the game after blocking a shot.
The Lightning held the Avs to two goals during regulation. Along with the MacKinnon power play goal, a rebound that caromed in off his skate, the other Colorado regulation goal came early in the third. Nico Sturm's shot deflected off Andrew Cogliano's body and into the net. It was an isolated look, one in which the Avs got rewarded with the help of a fortunate bounce.
But the Lightning's strong defensive performance through three periods wasn't enough for them to claim victory. That's because a) Darcy Kuemper rebounded from his rough Game Three outing with a strong performance and b) the Avalanche, like the Lightning, defended well in front of their goalie. The combination of Kuemper's goaltending and the Avs' defensive showing helped Colorado hold the Lightning to only two goals. Kuemper was especially sharp in the first period, when the Lightning put 17 shots on net. He also stood tall over the final 10:19 of regulation, when the Lightning outshot the Avalanche, 8-0. During this time, Nikita Kucherov hit the crossbar, a narrow miss that kept the Lightning from taking the lead (and potentially winning the game).
The Lightning now face elimination for the third time in this postseason. They'll need a win in Denver on Friday in order to extend the series. A big key will be if they can replicate their defensive performance from Game Four's 60-minute regulation time.
Lightning Radio Three Stars of the Game (as selected by Phil Esposito):
1. Cale Makar - Avalanche. Assist.
2. Anthony Cirelli - Lightning. Goal.
3. Darcy Kuemper - Avalanche. 36 saves.
