Lightning vs Stars: Game Six Preview

Another night, another opportunity to end the Stanley Cup Finals for the Tampa Bay Lightning. They had numerous opportunities to do it on Saturday in game five but fell short in double overtime. Now, it’s time to do what they’ve done all postsesaon.

Following a loss in the 2020 Stanley Cup Finals, the Tampa Bay Lightning are undefeated. They lost a round robin game to Philadelphia, followed that with a game one win over Columbus. They lost game two, followed that up with three straight wins and a round one victory. Lost game one to Boston, followed that with six straight wins into the Eastern Conference. The Islanders got the better of them in games three and five, but the Bolts won games four and six.

In fact, it’s been Andrei Vasilevskiy who has been extra impressive in those six games following a loss. Almost as if he felt he had to make up for the previous game. Following those losses, Vasy is 6-0 with 1.41 goals against average and a .940 save percentage. He takes it personally – and takes it out on his opponent.

The Dallas Stars aren’t done yet, though. With the game five win they have new life and the belief that they can be the first team since 1942 to overcome a 3-1 Stanley Cup Finals series deficit and win. They’ve already won two games with their top line not contributing in the way they – or anyone, really – would have expected.

It’s been Joe Pavelski and Corey Perry that have led the team in this series and these are experienced, veteran players that aren’t going to give up easily. The Lightning have to counter that with a belief of their own – the belief that their time is now and that they will get the job done tonight.

Victor Hedman has been the rock to lean in Steven Stamkos‘ absence. Not only has he been incredible defensively throughout the playoffs, but his contributions on offense have helped lift the Lightning to another level. Along with the Brayden Point – Nikita Kucherov – Ondrej Palat line that can strike in the blink of an eye, this Lightning team is just different than those that fell short in years past.

But in a game seven, anything can happen. Tampa Bay can not let it get to that point.

It’s about playing their game and dominating 5-on-5 like they have been. After a horrifically called game four, the refs swallowed the whistles in game five. Expect more of the same in game six. They aren’t going to be on the hook for “favoring” a team by calling penalties whether they should be called or not. It’s up to the Lightning and Stars to decide this amongst themselves and not expect a power play to help them out.

It’s going to get physical, it’s going to get nasty, it’s going to be the toughest win in any of these players’ careers. That’s just the way it is in the Stanley Cup Finals. Both teams have the will to win. Neither team wants to go home without the championship and have two months lost in a bubble for nothing. It’s about finishing. It’s about asserting your game, not reacting to the other’s.

Every series clinching game for the Lightning has come via overtime. If game six were to reach that point it would be only the third time in Stanley Cup Finals history where overtime was played in three consecutive games.

This is it. The Lightning had a 3-1 advantage and it’s down to 3-2. Should the Stars win tonight, game sevens are the most unpredictable things in all of sports. The Lightning have to ensure they don’t give the Stars that chance where the entire series can be decided by one lucky bounce or one lone mistake. In the series preview, I predicted the Lightning in six – and I’m not going to waver from that now. The Lightning find a way to get it done and bring home a championship on Monday night.

Game Six Information

Date: September 28, 2020

Time: 8:00 p.m. ET

Where: Rogers Place – Edmonton, Alberta

TV Broadcast: NBC, CBC, TVAS, SN

Radio Broadcast: 970 WFLA

Live Stream: Watch Here

Prediction: Lightning win 4-2; Conn Smythe Winner – Victor Hedman