Stanley Cup Final most impactful player for Lightning, Stars debated

The 2020 Stanley Cup Final between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Dallas Stars is off to an intriguing start.

The best-of-7 series is tied after the Lightning won Game 2 3-2 on Monday at Rogers Place in Edmonton, the hub city for the Cup Final. Game 3 is Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVAS).
Several players have stepped up for their team through the first two games, but which player had the most impact? We asked six NHL.com writers who have been covering the series for their opinion:
Tim Campbell, staff writer
There is no easy answer to this, but with the Lightning's edge in shot attempts (138-103), I think it's Stars goalie Anton Khudobin. Goalies feel an inordinate amount of the heat in any series, but against the skilled Lightning, Khudobin's importance can't be overstated. He made 22 saves in the third period of Game 1, which is the biggest reason Dallas held on for a 4-1 victory. The series is 1-1 because of him.

Tom Gulitti, staff writer
I'm going to go with Stars defenseman John Klingberg, who has three assists in the first two games while averaging 22:38 in ice time. Klingberg had two assists in Game 2, including his pass off Mattias Janmark's stick blade in front that brought Dallas within one goal 5:27 into the third period. Although 21-year-old Miro Heiskanen sometimes gets more attention among Stars defensemen, the 28-year-old is more experienced and demonstrated Monday how he can control a game when he asserts himself, almost leading them all the way back from trailing 3-0 in the first period. Klingberg played a steady 21:30 and also had an assist on Joel Kiviranta's second-period goal in Dallas' win in Game 1.
Tracey Myers, staff writer
Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov had 11 shots on goal combined in the first two games and was outstanding in Game 2, when he had the primary assist on each of their two power-play goals in the first period. His highlight-reel pass to forward Ondrej Palat, who was open in the left circle, on the second power play, was a thing of beauty. Kucherov set two Lightning records in Game 2: it was his 25th multipoint postseason game, passing Martin St. Louis, and by reaching 28 points (six goals, 22 assists) this postseason, he has two more than Brad Richards had in the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Not a bad night.

Brian Compton, deputy managing editor
Stars forward Alexander Radulov has used his size (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) to his advantage against the Lightning and has three assists in the first two games, including two in Game 2, when he played 19:23 and nearly helped Dallas mount a comeback after it fell behind 3-0 in the first period. Much of the talk will be centered around some of the players already mentioned here, but Radulov has a five-game point streak and has been a tremendous fit on the Stars' top line with Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin. If he can continue to contribute, the Stars' chances of winning the Stanley Cup increase exponentially.
Dan Rosen, senior writer
I'm picking Khudobin strictly because of the 22 saves he made in the third period of Game 1. The Lightning were all over the Stars, pushing for offense while they trailed 3-1. Dallas did a good job of limiting Tampa Bay's great opportunities, but it was Khudobin who made the biggest difference in those 20 minutes and why the Stars were able to come out with a 4-1 win after Jason Dickinson scored into the empty net. Khudobin was fine in Game 2, though he can't be faulted on either of Tampa Bay's first two goals, each on the power play. Forward Brayden Point scored on a one-timer that was deflected. Palat scored because the Lightning had terrific puck movement. Khudobin was the Stars' best player in their Game 1 win. Without his third period, this series easily could be 2-0 in favor of the Lightning.
Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist
It's Kucherov for me because of the timing of his two excellent passes in Game 2. The Lightning were coming off a loss in Game 1 in which they outshot the Stars 22-2 in the third period. When they went on the power play at 10:58 of the first period of Game 2, they were outshooting the Stars 5-2 and already were 0-for-1 on the power play. They hadn't scored a power-play goal in four games. Frustration could have set in. But then Kucherov threaded a pass into the slot for Point, who scored a power-play goal. When the Lightning went on the power play again at 13:11, they looked confident, whipping the puck around the zone. Kucherov threaded a pass through the slot to the left circle for Palat, who gave Tampa Bay a 2-0 lead. To me, that's the turning point of the series so far.