Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Dallas Stars: Top 3 studs and duds from Game 4

Who were the best and worst players for the Tampa Bay Lightning and Dallas Stars in Game 4?

Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final was a game full of shenanigans and silliness from both the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Dallas Stars, and the referees. It was by far the most exciting game of the series. Up until Kevin Shattenkirk‘s game-winning goal in overtime, it was a back and forth battle.

With their 5-4 overtime win in Game 4, the Lightning now have a 3-1 series lead over the Stars. They’ll get a chance to finish them off on Saturday because for some reason, the league decided to have games on back-to-back nights during the Stanley Cup Final. That’s right, Saturday could be the end of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Let’s take a look at the top three studs and duds from a wild and crazy Game 4.

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Studs

Brayden Point

Lightning forward Brayden Point had an outstanding night. He had two goals, which were the first two of the game for Tampa. And they came at a very important time. The Stars took an early 2-0 lead, scoring two goals on their first three shots. Tampa needed to get back in the game and with two goals in under three minutes, Point did exactly that.

Furthermore, Point was effective in all three zones. The Lightning out-chanced the Stars 8-6 at 5v5 with Point on the ice. They also out-attempted them 23-17. Though the Lightning got outshot by the Stars at 5v5 with Point on the ice, they wouldn’t have won Game 4 without his two huge goals. With his Game 4 performance, Point probably takes an ever so slight lead in a very hotly contested Conn Smythe Trophy race.

Joe Pavelski

Speaking of big goals, Stars forward Joe Pavelski had two of them in Game 4. His first came in the first period to give the Stars an early 2-0 lead. However, Pavelski’s second goal was much bigger. That one came in the third period to tie the game at four. Without it, the Stars would have lost in regulation.

His two goals give him 60 postseason goals in his career. This ties Pavelski with Joe Mullen for the most among American-born skaters. Furthermore, Pavelski now ranks fifth in postseason points among NHL players born in the United States.

Pavelski also posted terrific underlying numbers, as Dallas significantly outshot, out-attempted, outscored, and out-chanced Tampa with Pavelski on the ice.

Kevin Shattenkirk

Lightning defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk scored the overtime game-winning goal to give his team the win and a 3-1 series lead. Last summer, he came to the Bolts after being bought out by the New York Rangers.

Shattenkirk came to Tampa because he wanted to rebuild his value. He’s done a lot to do that, and his Game 4 goal should further improve his next contract that he’ll sign shortly because he’s a free agent in just a few weeks.

Duds

The Refs

Look, I’m the last guy who’s going to chastise the refs. I feel for them. They’re human, so they screw up. I’m a ref myself and that’s a fate I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. Being a ref is the only profession where you can do a perfect job and you’re still going to make a ton of people angry.

That said, the refs were absolutely horrendous in Game 4. They missed numerous calls on both sides of the ice. Roope Hintz was tripped, but there was no call. He had to leave the game. There were also some high-sticking calls they missed.

The refs completely botched the late game and overtime. Point got a mini-breakaway attempt late in the third period. Corey Perry hit him in… well, an area no man likes to be hit in. Higher than the thighs, lower than the belly. The family jewels, so to speak.

Not wanting to “impact” the game, the refs, in their infinite wisdom, decided to call Perry for interference and Point for embellishment. It was clearly not embellishment. I’m just saying, if someone hits me there, I’m doing way more than falling to the ice.

The refs didn’t want to impact the game, but in their attempt to avoid doing that, they did. Just call the game as you see it. If a player commits a penalty, don’t be shy. Don’t worry about if you’re going to impact the game. Just call it as you see it.

In overtime, Jamie Benn committed a phantom penalty against Yanni Gourde. You can call it a makeup call, but the fact remains that the refs called a non-existent penalty. Shattenkirk’s OT winner came on the ensuing power play.

You don’t want the refs to be the topic of conversation around the water cooler in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But everyone’s talking about the refs right now, and that’s not a good thing.

Andrei Vasileyskiy

Andrei Vasilevskiy has been fabulous for the Tampa Bay Lightning this postseason. But he had a very bad game in Game 4. Vasilevskiy allowed two goals on his first three shots against and three goals in his first seven. Yes, he rebounded nicely after a dreadful first 40 minutes. But Vasilevskiy undeniably had his worst game of the postseason. This all but kills his chances of winning the Conn Smythe.

Esa Lindell

Dallas Stars defenseman Esa Lindell had a very rough night. He was on the ice for just one Dallas goal. Moreover, the Lightning scored four goals (two at 5v5, two on the power play) with him on the ice. Lindell’s underlying stats were very poor as well.