2021 Stanley Cup Final: 3 compelling storylines to watch in Game 3
There are a plethora of intriguing storylines at play in Game 3 of the 2021 Stanley Cup Final.
We’re approaching do-or-die time for the Montreal Canadiens who head back to the Bell Centre 2-0 down in the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, while the Tampa Bay Lightning are now just two wins away from repeating as cup champions.
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All is going to plan for the Lightning so far who dominated the Habs in Game 1, while they had Andrei Vasilevskiy to thank for their win in Game 2 with the goalie standing on his head with a stellar 42-game performance.
The Canadiens, on the other hand, played more like the team that has enjoyed so much postseason success in Game 2, but coming up against a red hot goalie coupled with a couple of costly mistakes proved to be their downfall.
They will enter Game 3 with plenty to be positive about, however, given that Head Coach Dominique Ducharme is back after testing positive for COVID-19 on June 18, and his influence behind the bench will be welcome.
Secondly, being back at Bell Centre will be special for these Montreal players, even if the building won’t be at full capacity. Those fans lucky enough to have tickets will make more than enough noise to ensure a special atmosphere is created, and there will be plenty of emotion given that this is the Canadiens’ first home Stanley Cup Final game since 1993.
And, on that note, let’s take a look at the biggest talking points that will take center stage throughout Game 3…
3 most intriguing storylines to watch in Game 3 of 2021 Stanley Cup Final
3. History in the air
Tonight’s Game 3 marks the first-ever time that a Stanley Cup Playoff game has been played in the month of July, and that is cause enough to celebrate.
However, that isn’t the only slice of history given that the Canadiens are getting ready for their first home Stanley Cup Final game since 1993, which was also the last time they lifted Lord Stanley.
And, on a side note, there’s a good but weird omen at play in that the Phoenix Suns are now in the NBA Finals. Why is that significant?
Well, the last time the Suns appeared in the NBA Finals in 1993, the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup. Talk about symmetry.
Anyway, tonight will be one to remember for Habs fans and it will be a night to cherish given how long this franchise has mired in hockey obscurity, and a win to really make this a series would make it even better.
2. Will Ducharme’s return makes a difference?
While tonight will be a special one for the Canadiens back on home ice, it will also be a meaningful one for Montreal Interim Head Coach Dominique Ducharme who has been away from the team for the last two weeks after testing positive for COVID-19 on June 18.
He missed six games overall, including the first two of the Stanley Cup Final, so there is no doubt that Ducharme will be glad to be back where he belongs tonight with Assistant Coach Luke Richardson having steadied the ship in his absence.
Will Ducharme’s return be the difference for the Habs, though?
Sure, the bench boss would have had contact with his players via Zoom and the phone in-between games, but he will now be able to dictate his matchups as he pleases and, with the Canadiens having the last change for the next two games, that will be especially crucial.
That will allow Ducharme to do what he does best and he will no doubt look to pit the Phillip Danault line against the deadly Brayden Point line in order to attempt to shutdown Tampa’s biggest and most potent threat.
It is clear that this roster responds to Ducharme too given how well they’ve played so far this postseason, so having him back behind the bench may well given this Canadiens team the boost they need in order to go and win Game 3 and make this series a best-of-four.
1. All or Nothing
Hosting their First Stanley Cup Final game since 1993, the Montreal Canadiens will be motivated to put on a show in Game 3 tonight.
Given that they are also 2-0 down in the series, they will need to play with a certain amount of risk to avoid going 3-0 down and face a possible sweep at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who proved in Game 2 that they can still find a way to win even when they aren’t at their best.
As such, it will be fascinating to see how the Habs approach the first 10 minutes or so of the first period, and they will be wary of the fact that Tampa is 14-2 in Playoff games when it scores first having done so in both Games 1 & 2.
They are 0-4 when allowing the first goal, however, and the Canadiens are 11-2 in games when they light the lamp first, so there will be a certain amount of pressure on them to come out swinging and land the first blow.
Next. Stanley Cup Final Game 3 Primer. dark
If they can do just that and if Carey Price can have a monster game between the pipes, then things will look good for Montreal and they will be backed by 3,500 fans who, though small in numbers, will make plenty of noise in the hope that it inspires their team to strike back in this series and make it a best-of-four.