NHL teams
Pierre LeBrun, ESPN Senior Writer 9y

Second-round preview: Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning exacted some form of revenge for last spring's four-game sweep at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens by sweeping this year's regular-season series 5-0-0. Oh, but the real revenge would be over the next two weeks in the second round of the playoffs. Nothing else ever truly matches a playoff series defeat but a return of the favor come the next postseason. These two teams battled all year for first place in the Atlantic and despite getting waxed five times by the Bolts, the Habs prevailed by two points in the division, which gave Montreal home ice should the two teams ever meet in the second round. And here they are. Despite not having home-ice advantage, you will see most observers pick the Lightning because of the way they dominated the Habs in the regular season. Not to mention the fact the Canadiens didn't really impress in the manner in which they survived the Ottawa Senators in the opening round. Having said that, the reason Montreal won is also the same reason the Canadiens could beat Tampa a second straight year: Carey Price, the world's best netminder. He's just that good, that much of a difference-maker.

Fancy stats

Both teams are at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to puck-possession stats, the Bolts a top-five team in shot-attempt percentage while the Habs languished in the bottom third of the league. You didn't need the advanced-stats community to tell you that. Just watch a game this season between the two teams and the Bolts had the puck all the time. Speaking of stats, what's up with Steven Stamkos? The Lightning superstar captain has now gone 10 straight playoff games without a goal, including the entire seven-game series against the Detroit Red Wings. Overall, he has three goals in his past 17 games played, including regular season and playoffs. Does he light up the Habs to wake up out of his slumber? And how about the two power plays entering this series? The Bolts were the third-worst among the 16 playoff teams at 6.7 percent, scoring just twice on 30 power-play chances in the first round. The Habs are the second-worst at 5 percent, going 1-for-20 in the first round. If one of these two power plays wakes up in the second round, it could easily be a big factor in the series.

Gut check

Lightning goalie Ben Bishop was injured last year and never got to play in the four-game sweep by the Habs. He started a bit shaky in the series versus the Wings but finished strong, including a Game 7 shutout that improved his playoff numbers to a .922 save percentage and 1.87 goals-against average. He's no Price, but Bishop went 5-0-0 against the Habs in the regular season with a .933 save percentage and 1.59 goals-against average. This is a gut feeling but I think Bishop will stand tall in this series.

MVP

Price will in fact likely be the MVP of the regular season when the Hart Trophy is handed out in June. His 43-save shutout in Game 6 to eliminate the Senators in the opening round was all-word. But folks in Montreal have come to expect that from the league's top goalie.

The MVP in Tampa right now is Tyler Johnson, whose six goals and an assist in the opening round was a huge reason the Lightning beat the Red Wings. He's dynamic five-on-five, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, his speed and vision difficult to defend. The Habs will have their hands full with his line.

Secret weapon

Just have a feeling Lightning checking center Brian Boyle is going to make himself heard in this series, using his size and strength to make things happen in the Montreal zone. For the Habs, one always has to keep an eye on winger Dale Weise, head coach Michel Therrien's everything man, who was put on all four lines at different times this season to help spark the team. He had two goals in the opening round versus the Senators, including the Game 3 overtime winner, and he scored the OT winner in Game 1 at Tampa last year in the first round. He has a knack for big goals.

The skinny

It's interesting because neither of these teams impressed me at times in the opening round, Tampa falling behind 3-2 in the series to Detroit and looking lost while doing so, while the Habs nearly blew a 3-0 series lead over Ottawa before Price stole Game 6 to end the threat. Both of these clubs stand to raise their game one more level in the second round and beyond if they want to reach the Stanley Cup finals. I'm more torn than most people on this one because I know Tampa will be the favorite pick given the 5-0-0 regular-season series and the manner in which the Lightning toyed with the Habs at times in those games. But Price again last round reminded us why he can just unilaterally force an outcome. Not to mention the Habs have home ice. I think Montreal is going to make this a way better series than a lot of people believe but in the end, I just think Tampa's skill up front and a solid Bishop will be enough. Tampa in seven. Yes, winning at Montreal.

Lightning in seven.

^ Back to Top ^