5 Takeaways: Lightning driven to the brink after Avalanche take Game Four in overtime

The Tampa Bay Lightning lost Game Four, 3-2, in overtime against the Colorado Avalanche. Nazem Kadri, playing for the first time in the series after injuring his hand earlier in the playoffs, was the hero for the Avs just past the 12-minute mark of the overtime period.

The Lightning did a lot of what they needed to do to win this game from the drop of the puck, but in the end a disastrous overtime period would see them come out the losers. Now down 3-1 in the series, the Lightning will have to save three match points if they are to win the Stanley Cup this season.

Here’s our five biggest takeaways from Game Four:

5. Kucherov plays while Point remains out

After exiting Game Three due to a dangerous cross-check by Avs defender Devon Toews, Nikita Kucherov returned to play his normal role in Game Four. He was, however, held in check for most of the contest before rattling one off the post in the third, but quiet for the remainder thereafter.

Conversely, things do not seem to be looking positive for Brayden Point who has been a no-show in both games since playing in Game Two. While it’s unclear if he’s reaggravated his previous injury or picked up a new one, it’s beginning to look like we may have seen the last of him these playoffs.

3. Colorado’s special teams continues to have their way against Tampa Bay’s

Throughout the series, Colorado has been able to move the puck around almost at will until they catch the Lightning penalty kill gassed and on their heels. And last night was no different as the Avs converted their first power play to tie the game 1-1 after controlling the puck in their offensive zone and keeping the same Lightning penalty killers on the ice, for over a minute.

Unless the Lightning see an immediate change in their special teams performance, it’s likely they will look back and see it as a prime reason this series did not go their way. Game Four was not anything extraordinary for either team’s special teams units, but the continued success of Colorado on the power play, 1-for-2, and the continued drought for Tampa Bay’s power play unit, 0-for-2, is looking like a decisive factor.

For the series, the Avalanche are 6-for-13, and the Lightning are 1-for-14 on the power play. More importantly, the Avalanche have a power play goal in each overtime game and the Lightning have none. Games One and Four have been won at the margin, and it’s been Colorado’s special teams success making the difference thus far.

2. Erik Cernak and Anthony Cirelli leave game with injuries

As if missing Brayden Point was not already a big enough injury concern to deal with, the Lightning will now be looking at Erik Cernak and Anthony Cirelli’s health before the start of Game Five. Both players left the ice during the second period.

Cernak blocked a shot off his leg and did not return for the rest of the game and Cirelli had a freak incident in the closing minutes of the period that took him out for the remainder of it, but he did return for the third and overtime at less than full health.

Cirelli did not take a faceoff after his fall to the ice and noticeably was backing out from throwing body checks while he was forechecking the rest of the game. For a line that was thriving on the forecheck for most of the playoffs, losing Cirelli’s ability to play at full capacity was a major blow to the team.

Looking at replay, it looks like Cirelli either did something to his right arm when it hit the ice or Killorn’s skate might have cut him. No update on Cirelli was provided, but the fact that he was able to return almost immediately was a somewhat encouraging sign.

1. Overtime winner should not have counted

Post-game it was learned that the overtime winner should not have counted as the Avalanche had six players on the ice for game winning goal. And even worse it was Kadri who jumped on the ice early to get the jump on the Lightning defenders.

As bad of an officiating blunder that this is for the NHL, it should be remembered just how bad the Lightning were in the twelve minutes leading up to Kadri’s goal. Tampa Bay had an uninspiring 28% Corsi For% and 15.09% Expected Goals%. Even though those numbers look terrible, they still do not do justice for just how outmatched the team looked in overtime as the were seemingly always on defense.

While the talk in the next day or so, and possibly longer, will focus on the missed call, it’s hard for me to believe it would have changed the end result as special teams performance, Cirelli’s injury, and a general downtrend in performance since the first period was all working against the Lightning. However, it’s hard not to feel for the Cooper and the team here as all competitors want is a fair playing field to decide games at the end of the day, and they did not get that last night.