TAMPA BAY – Game 3 kicks off Monday, with both teams hitting the ice for the first time in Tampa Bay. Here’s what you need to know:
– Andrei Vasilevskiy and Brayden Point did not practice on Monday. Vasilevskiy will start, but Point will be a game-time decision.
– Lightning coach Jon Cooper on bouncing back for Game 3: “You’ve got to draw on some of your experience, but not use that as a crutch saying, ‘Just because we’ve had that experience, we’re going to win or we’re going to have success.'”
– Nazem Kadri (thumb) did not join the Avalanche’s main morning skate. He has yet to join the main group for practice during the Stanley Cup final. He is day to day, but isn’t ruled out to play.
– Andre Burakovsky is scheduled to join the team today after leaving Game 3 with a hand injury. He is also day-to-day, but could also play.
– Gabriel Landeskog didn’t skate, but it was just a maintenance day.
– Landeskog on Colorado’s depth: “When the top lines cancel each other out, we feel we have a really good chance to win.”
– Bednar on Darcy Kuemper coming back after missing most of the Western Conference final: “I think he’s done a nice job. I mentioned it after Game 1, I was pleased with his game. It was not his best game, but I was pleased with it … I thought he was better in Game 2 … I think he’s getting more confident in the net … He’s staying sharp and detailed and doing video work as well to help his game and know what to expect.
– Bednar on the challenge ahead to close the series: “First round, second round, it doesn’t matter. It’s a seven-game series. Different opponent, different challenges. It’s the same game, played in a different venue.”
– The Tampa Bay Lightning are 7-1-0 at home, with the lone loss coming in Game 3 against Toronto. Tampa has allowed just four goals in the past five games at home
– The Colorado Avalanche, however, have won every game on the road, including all three games in St. Louis in the second round. The Avs swept the first and third rounds.
