Bolts leaning on their depth with Alex Killorn likely unable to go

The Tampa Bay Lightning will likely be without forward Alex Killorn for a fourth-straight game when they attempt to close out the Montreal Canadiens and go back-to-back lifting the Stanley Cup with a win in Game 5 tonight at AMALIE Arena (8 p.m. Eastern puck drop).

Killorn blocked a shot toward the end of the second period of Game 1 to prevent a puck from reaching goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy's net with the Canadiens pressing to tie that game. Moments earlier, he had given his stick to Victor Hedman, who snapped his own stick, the sequence embodying the team-first game Killorn plays.
Killorn hasn't played since, however, other than a shift to start the third period of that game, and he likely won't be in the lineup tonight either. The 31-year-old left wing took part in Tampa Bay's morning skate prior to Game 4 in Montreal on Monday and was on the ice for pre-game warmups but couldn't go.
Killorn didn't skate during Wednesday's optional skate, and Lightning head coach Jon Cooper indicated the Bolts will use the same lineup in Game 5 they did in Game 4.
"I'd say Killorn is probably in the same situation he was last game, so it's probably doubtful," Cooper said.
Killorn's absence is a sizable hole for the Lightning to try and fill. He's one of the team's top penalty killers and is a member of the Bolts' number one power-play unit. He's regularly on a line alongside Anthony Cirelli and Steven Stamkos that can play a defensive, checking role when asked to while also providing considerable offense.
Killorn ranks tied for second for goals and fifth for scoring (8-9-17 pts.) in the NHL this postseason despite missing the last three games.
He's also become more of a vocal leader on the Lightning over the last few seasons as one of the veterans on the team and a core member of the group.
"He's got his fingerprints all over this team," Lightning forward Blake Coleman said. "He's a great penalty killer. He plays on our first power-play unit. He's great 5-on-5. Good puck possession guy. He's physical. There's not many things he doesn't do for us. We certainly miss him when he's not in the lineup. Thankfully we've got a next-man-up mentality and a lot of depth in this room. Guys like (Mathieu Joseph) have stepped in and done a great job. There's certainly areas where his presence is missed, but it's just next man up."
As Coleman mentioned, Mathieu Joseph has taken Killorn's spot in the lineup the last three games and will likely get the call again tonight if Killorn can't play. Joseph sat and waited his turn since Game 3 of the opening round versus Florida, going over a month without playing, training every day in preparation for when his number was called and utilizing every available bit of ice time to stay sharp.
Joseph has made a noticeable impact in Killorn's absence since entering the lineup for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. He registered his first career playoff point after tallying an assist in Tampa Bay's 6-3 Game 3 win, Joseph leading a 2-on-1 rush with Tyler Johnson into the Canadiens zone and firing the initial shot that Habs goalie Carey Price saved but sent the rebound right to Johnson to backhand into the net to extend the Bolts' lead to 4-1.
In Game 4, with the Lightning trying desperately to produce the game-tying goal in the third period, Joseph again led a 2-on-1 into the offensive zone and sauced a pass over the stick of a Montreal defenseman and perfectly into the path of Patrick Maroon to one-time into the net and level the score 2-2 with 6:12 to go. The Lightning had multiple opportunities to follow up Joseph's assist and Maroon's tally to steal Game 4 late but couldn't do it despite a four-minute power play that extended from the end of the third period into overtime.
Josh Anderson scored 3:57 into the extra frame to give Montreal its first win in the series and extend it to a Game 5.
The Lightning will lean on their ability to bounce back - 14-0 over the past two postseasons in games following a loss - in their quest to clinch the Cup tonight.
"You need depth in your lineup," Cooper said of Joseph's impact since being inserted into the lineup. "Jo played a bunch of games for us in the regular season. I think it was tough for him not to be in because when Goodrow came back in the First Round that kind of bumped Jo out. But, like I tell these players, eventually your time's going to come, and now it's come. Jo's making the best of it. It's especially tough when you get under 10 minutes in the game, but his positivity, Jo's got a colorful personality. He's a lot of fun to be around. He brings some life to the bench for us in the time he's not on the ice for us, but he's also made some plays like we witnessed on the second goal the other night. You need to get minutes from those guys, and he's been giving us positive minutes and a lot of credit to Jo in his preparation in the time off from the First Round until now."
Joseph hasn't just been contributing offensively either. He's been a physical force the Canadiens have had to deal with throughout the series, the 24 year old averaging 22.33 hits per 60 minutes to pace the Lightning in that category this postseason.
"Jo's been great," Coleman said. "I think he's done what we've needed him to do. He's been fast and he's been physical. He brings a lot of energy into our lineup. It's great when you can rely on a guy that's got the experience that he does and the skill that he does to come in and do a job like that. I think everybody is pleased with what he's done for our group."
Coleman said the mood inside the Lightning locker room prior to taking the ice for Game 5 morning skate was business as usual. Part of the reason for that attitude is having players like Joseph that can fill in and produce in the absence of more established players.
The Lightning like their depth. And when it's been called upon, it's produced.
Remember Luke Schenn when he was needed in the Semifinal Round?
Joseph has been just as steady.
Which should be no surprise. Those two have been basically joined at the hip during every optional morning skate, practice or ice time this postseason to train as much as the team will allow.
Their dogged preparation is paying off for the Lightning, particularly Joseph's currently.
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