This extra effort would prove invaluable, allowing the Tampa Bay Lightning to step on their feet and not drown after the first two games of the Stanley Cup final in Colorado Avalanche fell. When the forward of the Avalanche JT Compher saw the juicy rebound bouncing in his direction, you can be sure that he thought this would be an easy hit, the kind of goal that would give an early spark and a way to silence the crowd. Instead, it was an impressive rebound and a sign that Vasilevsky was locked up and ready to bounce after conceding a stunning seven goals in Game 2 defeat. “Right now, I forget what the score was in the game when this game was played, but it’s almost one of those games you think, it just lands on its stick and it’s almost a guaranteed goal,” said Lightning winger Alex Killorn. . Tuesday. “So much in terms of momentum, it’s huge for us to get back in the game. “I think this is one of the things with Vassi, he is able to make these saves that look almost like a goal.” Although Avalanche would still open the scoring in Game 3, it was the only time they kept the lead in the game – a 6-2 victory for the hosts – and there is no doubt that Vasilevskiy returned to a super-human level from main reasons why Lightning were able to get off the mat and reduce the series deficit to 2-1 in Wednesday’s game (8:17 pm ET, Sportsnet). Vasilevskiy’s ability to bounce is the material of the legend, a reputation based on hard work and absolute determination. He is the best goalkeeper on the planet and was not ready to let his team go 0-3. “You can learn a lot from him and his mental toughness. “He is always there,” said Lightning defender Mikhail Sergachev. “It’s not like he’s taking a break. He is always there, he always makes these crazy rebounds and sometimes we play badly for him, but we try to be like him. “We try to show up every night to make him happy. We try to keep him happy. But really, he’s the hardest guy I’ve ever met. “ That mental strength is part of why Lightning coach Jon Cooper chose to leave Vasilevskiy in Saturday night’s game for the third period, despite his side falling 5-0 after 40 minutes. Although Cooper has said many times in this series that he just does not like to pull Vasilevskiy in almost any way, this seemed like an opportunity to put back-up Brian Elliott for the third period. Not as a punishment, but as a way for Vasilevski to take the lead in the recovery process, knowing full well that he had to be in his strongest game in Game 4. As it turns out, Cooper knew what his goalkeeper needed most from the armchair coaches, including yours really – who was in the Vasilevskiy traction camp. Cooper has been close to Vasilevski long enough to know that he would not be discouraged by Cale Makar’s two extra goals in the third period, even though his body language and shrugs may have suggested otherwise. . The truth was that Vasilevskiy still prevented Avalanche from achieving a double-digit number with a few high-scoring rebounds, including a glove stop to steal Valeri Nichushkin to secure a hat-trick. Having to sit in seven places between games is not an easy hurdle to overcome, but it is something that Vasilevskiy has become better at during his eight-year NHL career. “His intellectual development over the last six to seven years has been amazing. “I think this kind of defeat (in game 2) in 2014 or ’15, the defeats are painful, but that would have stuck with him more,” Cooper said. “It simply came to our notice then. “The goalkeeper is the last line of defense. Every time a goal comes in, everyone looks at him. And being able to have that ability to turn the page is (is) different because you have two days to turn the page. But when it comes in. “A goal, you have to turn the page in 10 seconds when the ball falls. That, I think, was his gift that made him great, the ability to turn the page.” The Lightning, along with Vasilevskiy, did a great job of turning the page after the one-sided defeat and now we are on the verge of finding out if the two-time defending champions can even turn the tide or if they will face a dismissal on Friday night as the series returns to Denver. Vasilevskiy will need to play at elite level as the series continues, given the way the Avalanche have responded to previous defeats with outstanding efforts in Games 3 and 6 of their second round series against St. Petersburg. Louis Blues. “Yes, we just have to keep pepping him,” said Avalanche defender Devon Toews. “We feel that if we give him enough opportunities we will take our chances to score and we feel that we are entering good areas to score right now. “He is a great goalkeeper. He is very athletic. And that’s why he’s one of the best in the world right now. And it is a challenge every night to try to overcome it. We just have to achieve our goals. “ Lightning striker Nick Paul had plenty of experience playing against Vasilevskiy before being acquired by the Ottawa Senators in the NHL, but was impressed to see how the goalkeeper works on a daily basis. “They always call him. I think that’s what makes him such a good goalkeeper,” said Paul, who gave the game’s winner in Game 3, despite having a lower body problem. “There are no breaks for him. He is always focused. He takes everything seriously. Then, when it’s time for the game, you see it. “Whenever there is a big setback that needs to be done, it does. He’s just unbelievable. He is the best goalkeeper out there. You can understand with his routines and how he takes care of himself every day that there is a reason why he is the best “. Vasilevskiy’s ability to steal games is something Lightning has relied on many times, especially in the last few seasons during their run in the Stanley Cup final. They know how valuable it is to their success and they never take it for granted. “It simply came to our notice then. “He is a special player who does not come very often,” said Lightning defender Zach Bogosian. “So obviously we are very lucky to have him and he is the backbone of this organization for as long as he is here. It’s impressive to see that. “ Dive deeper into the Cup final Avalanche dominated. Then Lightning refused to give them up. Before you play Game 3, decide what you need to know. • Controlled lightning: Coming from a 7-0 defeat where they could not break an open offensive game, the Lightning controlled the only thing they could control. • Ice poker: It is easy to see Kucherov’s behavior and draw hasty conclusions about his level of care. But that marks the failure to recognize the location of most of the weightlifting – his brain. • McKinnon does not score. This is a problem: After a night where the Lightning stars shone, it is impossible to ignore the fact that MacKinnon has not scored another goal so far in the Final. • Lightning finds life: Leave nine unanswered goals in the league and the mood can get gloomy quickly. The blood was in the water. But the panic was not in the air.
