Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: Lightning try to even East Final vs. Rangers

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily in-depth look at the 2022 NHL postseason. There is one playoff game scheduled for Tuesday, the 37th day of the postseason.

On Tap

New York Rangers at Tampa Bay Lightning (8 p.m. ET; ESPN, ESPN+, CBC, SN, TVAS)
The Lightning look to even the best-of-7 Eastern Conference Final in Game 4 while the Rangers will try to take a 3-1 lead back to Madison Square Garden. Tampa Bay defeated New York 3-2 at Amalie Arena on Sunday after Ondrej Palat scored go-ahead goal with 42 seconds remaining in the third period. Chris Kreider scored the 34th playoff goal of his NHL career in Game 3 and is one shy of surpassing Rod Gilbert for the most in Rangers history. Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov can become the 10th player in NHL history to factor on at least six consecutive goals in the conference finals/semifinals. The most recent player to do so was Jeff Carter for the Los Angeles Kings in 2014 (three goals, three assists from Games 2-3 against the Chicago Blackhawks).

What We Learned

Avalanche have a different vibe
Three consecutive second-round Stanley Cup Playoff exits from 2019-21 gained the talented Colorado Avalanche the reputation of not meeting expectations. That's not the case anymore. Not only did the 2022 Avalanche finally make it to the third round, they advanced to the Stanley Cup Final by sweeping the Edmonton Oilers with a 6-5 overtime victory in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final at Rogers Place on Monday. Perhaps the most telling statistic from years past is their 7-0 road record in the playoffs, a sign of maturity to be sure. "It's just about our game and how we have to play," coach Jared Bednar said. "It shouldn't matter about the venue or the environment, the hostility of the crowd or who is cheering, none of that. I just think you have to be focused on what you have to do to have success. It's the same sheet of ice, it's the same opponent, our guys are playing the same positions. It seems pretty clear to me. The more you can be focused and take care of that, the more success you're going to have." It's the same philosophy the Tampa Bay Lightning have had during their back-to-back Stanley Cup championships of 2020 and 2021. Given Colorado is 12-2 in these playoffs, momentum is on their side. -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer
Oilers could not find a way to contain Colorado
They tried a lot of ways, but the Oilers could not find a winning formula to defeat the Avalanche. Game 1 was something of a track meet when the Oilers scored first but lost 8-6. Game 2 was tighter but a second-period flurry of three goals-against in 2:04 left Edmonton in the dust of a 4-0 result. Edmonton scored first again in Game 3, and it was tied 2-2 in the third period until Evan Bouchard's shot hit the post and Colorado forward J.T. Compher scored on the ensuing counterattack at 12:42 for the game-winner. In Game 4, the Oilers rallied to lead 3-1 after two periods, their first lead of the series beyond the first period. They couldn't hold that or a 4-2 lead against the powerful Avalanche, who came at them in wave after wave. Edmonton lost to a faster, deeper team, but the experience of what it takes to reach the conference final should be an asset for the future. -- Tim Campbell, staff writer

About Last Night

Colorado Avalanche 6, Edmonton Oilers 5 (OT)
Artturi Lehkonen scored at 1:19 of overtime to lift the Avalanche to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2001. Cale Makar had a goal and four assists, becoming the first defenseman in NHL history with five points in a series-clinching game, Gabriel Landeskog had a goal and two assists, and Pavel Francouz made 30 saves for Colorado, which came back from down two goals in the third period. Connor McDavid had a goal and two assists, Zach Hyman scored two goals, Leon Draisaitl had four assists, and Mike Smith made 36 saves for the Oilers. Colorado will either play the New York Rangers or Tampa Bay Lightning in the Final.