Point's line did its best to hold New Jersey Devils left wing Taylor Hall in check in the first round. Hall had six points (two goals, four assists) and 21 shots on goal in the five-game series, but one point, an assist, and four shots on goal in Games 4 and 5, Lightning wins that ended the series.
Point had three points (one goal, two assists), won 53.8 percent of his face-offs, and was part of a power play that had a 26.3-percent scoring efficiency and a penalty kill that had a success rate of 84.2 percent. He played 25.4 shifts per game, most among Lightning forwards.
"You watch highlights all year and you just think he goes 200 feet one way," Lightning forward J.T. Miller said. "But he's playing against the other team's top line every night, is super reliable and plays in all situations."
Point likely will play against the Bruins' top line of Patrice Bergeron, Marchand and David Pastrnak in at least Games 1 and 2 of the second round, when the Lightning will have the last-change advantage as the home team.
Bergeron's line accounted for 30 points (nine goals, 21 assists) in Boston's seven-game series win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round.
"Point is an example of a guy who will go into a corner with a guy and regardless of his size he will come out with the puck," Cooper said. "He's really improved his skating. He's got a good skill set. But you look at the way he thinks the game and his competitive nature, both are elite."
Point's drive and hockey IQ stood out to the Lightning scouts who first saw him playing with Moose Jaw of the Western Hockey League during the 2011-12 season.
They would go to see Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly, then with Moose Jaw in his draft year, but it was Point who kept leaving an impression, especially in the 2012 WHL playoffs, when he had 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in 14 games at age 16.
The Lightning selected Point in the third round (No. 79) of the 2014 NHL Draft, after he had 91 points (36 goals, 55 assists) in 72 games in 2013-14.
"You went to the game to watch whoever and you left the game going, 'This little guy, he's the best player,'" Lightning director of player development Stacy Roest said. "You go back two or three weeks later and the same thing happens."
Point did it again in training camp last season, when he was supposed to be ticketed for Syracuse of the American Hockey League. Instead he made the Lightning's opening-night roster, stayed in the NHL all season, and had 40 points (18 goals, 22 assists) in 68 games.
"He goes into a [preseason] game, plays well, so he gets another game," Roest said. "He keeps playing well so he gets another game. And the next thing you know he's one of the best players and he's on the team."
Point's rise wouldn't have happened without him putting in the work. He isn't blessed with Steven Stamkos' shot or Nikita Kucherov's skill, but he always could skate. What he needed to do was refine his technique to get the most out of his legs, to make them his best weapon.
