2021 Stanley Cup Final: 3 Keys to Game 2 as Habs look to even up series
These three factors could play a major role in Game 2 of the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Final.
Game 1 of the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Final provided a stark reminder of just how good the Tampa Bay Lightning are, with the defending cup champions dismantling the Montreal Canadiens in a big 5-1 win at Amalie Arena on Monday.
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Boasting elite goaltending, depth up and down the lineup, an explosive power play and stars all over the roster, the Bolts could well go down as one of the best teams ever in the modern day NHL and they are chasing history as they go in pursuit of their second straight championship.
Montreal, on the other hand, looked caught out by the occasion in Game 1 and they got away from what made them so successful in the previous three rounds of the Playoffs, while we learned that Carey Price can be beat if he has to deal with screens and traffic all night long.
However, this is the magic of postseason hockey we are talking about and you can expect a big bounce-back game from both Price and the Habs tonight, and they can take comfort from the fact that each of the past three Stanley Cup champions lost Game 1 before winning the series.
Talk about good omens.
It should be an absolute doozy with Amalie Arena expected to be at full capacity tonight, so let’s look at some Keys to the Game…
3 Keys to Game 2 of the 2021 Stanley Cup Final between the Habs & the Bolts
3. Help Carey Price do what he does best
There was no doubt that the Montreal Canadiens goalie was a leading Conn Smythe contender heading into Game 1, and he will more than likely be crowned the Playoffs MVP if the Habs end up winning the Stanley Cup.
However, Price was exposed on Monday as the Tampa Bay Lightning proved that if you can get traffic to the net, set up screens and take away the eyes of the veteran, then there is a way to beat him and they certainly did that by putting up five goals on the board.
One of the main reasons why the Habs are in the Stanley Cup Final was their ability to stifle teams and play elite-level defense, while relying on their X-Factor between the pipes to stand on his head and perform heroics when the occasion called for it.
Perhaps overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the moment, the Canadiens got away from that in Game 1 and they were run out of the building by the Bolts, who scored three of their five goals on deflections with Price left exposed time and time again.
And, while there are a plethora of things Montreal needs to do better if they are to split this series heading back to Canada on Friday, the most important job will be to do a better job of clearing traffic from the front of the net and giving Price as much vision as possible so he can actually see the puck and then stop it.