The Blue Jackets signed Gaudreau to a seven-year, $68.25 million contract in the most surprising move of the NHL’s first day of offseason free agency.

Gaudreau lauds Columbus as ‘fun place to play’

Fans and pundits struggled to find a reason why Gaudreau would choose Columbus. Calgary won the Pacific Division last season, reaching the second round of the playoffs. The Blue Jackets last reached the playoffs in the 2019-2020 season. Gaudreau hails from New Jersey, raising speculation that he could land with the Devils, the Philadelphia Flyers, or the New York Islanders. Columbus isn’t exactly a hockey hotbed.

Yet Gaudreau says that he considered Columbus one of his top choices as soon as he determined he would test the free agent waters.

“I’d never been to Columbus before until I made it to the NHL, so when I started playing there I didn’t know what I was walking into,�Guadreau told The Athletic. “They’ve always had great crowds, really into the game. I said to myself the, ‘This looks like a really fun place to play.�/p>

Gaudreau added that players he has known for years told him he would love Columbus. That was apparently enough to convince the biggest free agent on the board to sign in the most unlikely of destinations.

Guadreau let the NHL in plus/minus last season at +64, scoring 40 goals and 75 assists �career highs in all three categories. Overall, he has scored 609 points in 602 games over nine seasons, all with Calgary.

Signing could change perception of beleaguered franchise

Adding Guadreau won’t instantly turn Columbus into a Stanley Cup contender, and may not even be enough for the team to grab a playoff spot. FanDuel Sportsbook now lists the Blue Jackets as a +7500 pick to win the Stanley Cup next year, still the longest odds of any Eastern Conference team.

Yet the Columbus front office says this could be a turning point for the franchise.  They envision not only better on-ice play, but perhaps a change in the reputation of the city as a destination for future free agents.

“I get a rash every time I hear the negative comments about Columbus, and it’s so unfair because we have a great organization, we have a great city,�Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen told ESPN. “Sometimes players leave, and people think they left but the reality is that we didn’t even offer a contract. We have a great organization. We have a good team, and we’re going to keep getting better.�/p>

FanDuel rates Columbus as a +3700 pick to win the Eastern Conference next season, as well as a +4500 pick to top the Metropolitan Division.

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Adding to the excitement is the typical flurry of Draft Day trades, as rebuilding teams look to strengthen their draft position while clubs in Stanley Cup contention deal away their future for a chance to win it all next season.

However, history has proven that some of the best all-time players in NHL got their start as a late pick in the NHL Draft.

Here’s a look at the top five NHL Draft picks of all time.

1. Henrik Zetterberg �Center
Draft: 210th overall, 1999
Team: Detroit Red Wings

Few teams in NHL history can match the dominance of the Detroit Red Wings during the 1990s and 2000s. Winners of four Stanley Cup titles over a 12-year span, Henrik Zetterberg emerged as a key, albeit unlikely, part of the team’s later success.

Discovered by Red Wings management as a teen playing youth hockey in his native Sweden, Zetterberg was selected by Detroit with the 210th pick in the 1999 NHL Draft.

He would go on to score 337 goals and 960 points over a 16-year career in the Motor City, including a memorable 2008 Stanley Cup win in which he earned Conn Smythe Trophy honors as playoff MVP.

In addition, Zetterberg also set the Red Wings team record for most goals and points scored during a single NHL postseason by potting 13 goals including the Cup winner and 27 points during the team’s march to the 2008 Stanley Cup title.

2. Domink Hasek �Goalie
Drafted: 199th overall, 1983
Team: Chicago Blackhawks

There was little doubt about Dominik Hasek’s ability to stop pucks as a teenager. “The Dominator�established himself as one of the best young goalies in the game while leading his native Czechoslovakia to a silver medal at the 1983 World Junior Hockey Championship.

But with the Cold War still raging, NHL teams remained hesitant about drafting players from behind the Iron Curtain.

That did not deter the Chicago Blackhawks, who selected Hasek with the 199th pick in the 1983 NHL Draft.

Hasek would go on to have a legendary NHL career. In addition to raising the Stanley Cup on two occasions, Hasek also claimed Vezina Trophy honors as the NHL’s top goaltender on six occasions and twice won the Hart Trophy as league MVP.

3. Pavel Datsyuk �Center
Drafted: 171st overall, 1998
Team: Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings scouting staff hit another home run when they called the name of Pavel Datsyuk with the 171st selection in the 1998 NHL Draft.

Considered undersized for a center by NHL standards of the day, Datsyuk went largely unnoticed until the Red Wings stumbled upon him during a scouting mission in the summer of 1997.

The club’s efforts paid huge dividends, with Datsyuk going on to become one of the greatest two-way players in NHL history while leading the Red Wings to two Stanley Cup wins.

Datsyuk also proved to be a superstar on the international stage, leading his native Russia to the 2012 World Championship and playing a pivotal role in that nation’s march to Olympic gold in 2018.

Datsyuk also claimed Lady Byng Trophy honors as the “NHL player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability�in four straight seasons, and set up the game-winning goal that would clinch the Stanley Cup title for Detroit in 2008.

4. Brett Hull �Right Wing
Drafted: 117th overall, 1984
Team: Calgary Flames

Being the son of the one of the most prolific goal scorers in NHL history did little to boost the stock of Brett Hull as a hockey prospect.

Viewed in his own words as a “pudgy, fun-loving, music-crazed bum”, Hull was overlooked by junior teams as a teenager growing up in Canada. That indifference extended to the NHL Draft, with the talented winger failing to get selected in his first two years of draft eligibility in 1982 and 1983.

The Calgary Flames took a chance on the “Golden Brett� taking him with the 117th pick in 1984.

But it wasn’t until Calgary general manager Cliff Fletcher discarded Hull, shipping him to the St. Louis Blues in a misguided trade three years later that this legendary sniper would finally fulfill his vast potential.

Hull eventually went on to top his father Bobby Hull’s spectacular NHL numbers, racking up 741 career goals, fifth most in NHL history, and twice raising the Stanley Cup.

5. Daniel and Henrik Sedin – Left Wing/Center
Drafted: Second and third overall, 1999
Team: Vancouver Canucks

While scouting expertise is key to unearthing hidden gems on NHL Draft Day, two of the most notable draft picks in NHL history resulted from wily wheeling and dealing by Brian Burke during his tenure as general manager of the Vancouver Canucks.

Already in possession of the third overall pick in the 1999 NHL Draft, Burke was determined to make a splash on Draft Day.

It was no secret twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin would go high in the draft, but given the almost supernatural chemistry the Swedish brothers displayed on the ice together, Burke believed that they could best meet their individual potential by playing together in the NHL.

Accordingly, Burke embarked on some of the most creative Draft Day dealing in NHL history, pulling the trigger on three deals in speedy succession just hours before the start of the NHL Draft, landing both Daniel and Henrik Sedin with the second and third overall picks.

Burke’s moves both elevated his status as an elite NHL executive as the Sedins went on to enjoy a spectacular two-decade career in Vancouver, where they went on to rewrite the Canucks’ record book while scoring a combined 633 goals and 2111 points.

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Artturi Lehkonen scored the game-winning goal at 12:28 of the second period, and the Avalanche defense closed the door after that, stymying the Lightning offense throughout the third period.

Makar unanimously wins Conn Smythe

Tampa Bay managed only three shots on goal over the last 20 minutes of Game 6. Colorado goalie Darcy Kuemper stopped what did make it through, making 22 saves on 23 shots.

“I had a pretty good feeling about tonight because they called that meeting and those guys said what they said,�Colorado head coach Jared Bednar told reporters. “I was really impressed that our guys [held a player meeting] to try to get over [Game 5] mentally and discuss what was going on at home, and turn the page and get ready. After that meeting, you could just kind of feel a sense of relief, some of the nervous tension that we had at home [was gone] and the focus was back.�/p>

Colorado defenseman Cale Makar won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Voters unanimously gave the 23-year-old Makar the award after he scored eight goals and dished out 29 assists throughout the Avalanche’s playoff run.

“There’s nothing better than this,�Makar said after Game 6. “You dream of this. It feels so surreal. It feels like a video game right now.�/p>

The Lightning came up short in their bid to win a third straight Stanley Cup. No team has won three championships in a row in the NHL since the New York Islanders won four straight titles from 1980 to 1983.

Lightning vow to make more Stanley Cup runs

Still, while Tampa Bay couldn’t keep its streak alive, the Lightning sent a clear message after the Game 6 loss that they will return to contend next year.

“The playoff streak, that ended, but it’s not the end of our run,�Lightning coach Jon Cooper told reporters after the loss. “These guys are right up there with those 1980s Islanders, the Oilers, those teams you talk about for decades. I hope people talk about that group in there for decades because young hockey fans coming up, they’re watching the same team play in the final every single year. You don’t do that by fluke.�/p>

While oddsmakers are giving the Lightning respect while looking forward to next season, it’s Colorado that appears likely to start a new dynasty of its own. The Avalanche are the clear +500 favorite to win the Stanley Cup next year at FanDuel Sportsbook, far ahead of the second-choice Toronto Maple Leaves (+900).

The Lightning (+1000) share third on the odds board alongside the Florida Panthers and the Vegas Golden Knights, just ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes (+1100).

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FanDuel Sportsbook lists the Avalanche as a -176 favorite to close out the series in Game 5, with the Lightning at +146 to extend the Stanley Cup Final.

Avalanche closing in on first title since 2001

Colorado moved to within a game of winnings its first title since 2001 with an overtime victory in Tampa Bay on Wednesday. Nazem Kadri’s somewhat controversial goal put the Avalanche up 3-1 and on the verge of finally ending the Lightning’s run as champions.

Yet the Avalanche aren’t taking anything for granted. Given the stakes and Tampa Bay’s experience, the Colorado players insist they won’t celebrate before the final whistle blows on a fourth victory.

“We know what’s at stake, but at the same time, what Tampa is going to bring and have to kind of put other emotions to the side and focus on the game at hand,�Colorado forward Darren Helm told reporters. “We’ve got a group that believes, but we also know that Tampa is going to be playing their best game. So we’ve got to put all that outside noise to the side and just focus on what we have to do tomorrow.�/p>

Conn Smythe Trophy favorite Cale Makar echoed those sentiments.

“Our focus is just on next game and regardless of what happens, we’re still going to be a confident group,�Makar told reporters. “Obviously, we have a great opportunity here to clinch something great for the team, but at the end of the day we just have to focus on ourselves and play our game and then wherever that takes us, it takes us.�/p>

Lightning: Comeback starts with win in Game 5

The Lightning aren’t giving up on winning a title heading into Game 5. Sure, in the history of the NHL, teams down 3-1 in a Stanley Cup Final have only won one series out of 36. For the moment, Tampa Bay is focusing on shorter term goals.

“We have to go win a game,�Lightning forward Pat Maroon told reporters. “Right now our focus is on Game 5, and we have to go win. I mean, there’s nothing really we can do.�/p>

FanDuel lists Tampa Bay as a +900 underdog to win the Stanley Cup Final at this point, a sign of just how big a task this comeback will be.

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper says that regardless of the odds, his team remains focused on the task ahead. As he pointed out, Tampa Bay came back from down 3-2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round.

“What the hell’s the difference?�Cooper asked reporters on Thursday. “We still have to go on the road and win a hockey game. We were going to have to win a game on the road regardless. We didn’t have home ice. So why not tomorrow?�/p>

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FanDuel Sportsbook lists Makar as the -480 favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, which the NHL awards annually to the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Dominant Makar easy choice for Conn Smythe favorite

Makar has been an imposing presence for the Avalanche this postseason. He’s scored seven goals and racked up 20 assists throughout the Avalanche’s Stanley Cup run. Those numbers back up the 86 points the 23-year-old compiled in only his third NHL season.

“It’s impressive what he’s been able to do in such a short time in his career, and there is not enough you can say about him,â€Â?Avalanche winger Andrew Cogliano told reporters. “I don’t think I’ve seen a focus in a younger player like him in my whole career, how he approaches the game, how he prepares. With him, it’s the habits that make him special … it really, really makes him such a dominant player.â€Â?/p>

Makar scored twice and assisted on three goals to help the Avalanche take a 3-1 lead so far against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final. Even the Lightning have marveled at Makar’s ability to impact the game.

“He’s special because he’s quicker than everyone else,�Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev told The New York Times. “He knows how much time and room he has, and he uses it to his advantage. You think you’ve got him, but you don’t. He just uses you as bait and as a screen. He’s very, very dangerous.�/p>

Vasilevskiy could steal MVP honors with comeback

While Makar appears to be in control of the Conn Smythe Trophy race, there are other contenders who could still make a run at the award.

Center Nathan MacKinnon (+460) has scored 12 goals for Colorado during the playoffs, while winger Mikko Rantanen (+1000) has scored five and dished 20 assists. Both have earned consideration for the Conn Smythe, even if they can’t beat out their transcendent teammate.

The biggest twist in the race would come if Tampa Bay wins the final three games to claim its third consecutive Stanley Cup. Should that happen, a Lightning player will probably win the Conn Smythe Trophy.

In that case, the most likely winner would be goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (+1700). Throughout the playoffs, Vasilevskiy has lived up to his reputation as a big-game goalie, rebounding from difficult games to stifle opposing offenses time and again. The Russian veteran has gone 13-8 with a .257 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage throughout the playoffs this year.

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The Avalanche are now up 3-1 in the series after beating Tampa Bay 3-2 in overtime on Wednesday. FanDuel Sportsbook sees the Lightning as +900 underdogs to stage a comeback and win the Stanley Cup over Colorado (-1250).

Kadri enjoys ‘surreal’ experience in Game 4

Nazem Kadri, playing in his first game in the Stanley Cup Final after returning from thumb surgery, scored the game-winner 12:02 into overtime to give Colorado a commanding lead in the series.

“Just thinking I was done and having a sliver of hope, and then sitting here right now is kind of surreal,�Kadri told reporters. “I just was excited to join the team again and be in the dressing room. This is what I’ve been waiting for my entire life, so it certainly was exciting to get back into the lineup.�/p>

Kadri suffered his thumb injury after Evander Kane boarded him in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final. While he started slowly in his first game back, he ultimately found the groove before scoring the winner in Game 4.

“It’s the Stanley Cup Final; you know he’s going to go out there and give it his all,�Avalanche coach Jared Bednar told reporters. “He has the ability to win you hockey games in moments like that. There’s no question why we wanted him in.�/p>

Cooper questions legality of game-winner

Not everyone found inspiration in Kadri’s return. After the game, Lightning coach Jon Cooper intimated that Kadri’s goal shouldn’t have counted, apparently referring to video that showed officials could have called too many men on the ice on the Avalanche.

“This one is going to sting much more than others,�Cooper said. “You’re going to see what I mean when you see the winning goal. And my heart breaks for the players. Because we probably still should be playing.�/p>

Nathan MacKinnon was far from the bench when Kadri jumped onto the ice. Referees have wide discretion in calling too many men on the ice penalties; while the rules, as written, would deem the situation as a penalty, officials often allow messy line changes to go unpenalized, provided the player coming off the ice removes himself from the play.

“I thought it was nothing, honestly,�Bednar said on Thursday. “You look at that clip, you back that clip up �and I did multiple times just to see what they were talking about �and Tampa’s got two guys jumping on with their D coming off the ice from a zone away. I count 7-6 at one point. So that is what it is. That’s the way the game is played.�/p>

On Thursday, Cooper said he was ready to move on from the call.

“What’s great about today is that it’s not yesterday and now we’ve got some excitement for Game 5,�Cooper told reporters. “Nothing we can do to turn back. They missed it. It’s unfortunate, but it’s water under the bridge. Let’s go get ready for what should be a hell of a Game 5.�/p>

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The Lightning come in as the slightest of underdogs at FanDuel Sportsbook, which lists Tampa Bay as a -108 pick to beat the Avalanche (-111) to win Game 4.

Kuemper likely back in net for Colorado

After losing the first two games in Colorado, the Lightning stormed back on Monday, blitzing Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper for five goals on just 22 shots in a 6-2 win.

Despite that performance, Kuemper looks to be the likely starter for the Avalanche in Game 4. Kuemper took the starter’s net for Colorado’s morning skate at Amalie Arena. That suggests that he’ll get the start over Pavel Francouz, who is a perfect 6-0 in the playoffs this year.

Yet Colorado head coach Jared Bednar stopped short of confirming his starter for Game 4. Bednar did tell reporters that Kuemper has shown resilience throughout the playoffs.

“I feel like he’s done a nice job of that,�Bednar said. “He’s followed up good performances with better performances. He’s elevated his game when he’s needed to.�/p>

While Kuemper has put up a few poor performances, he’s been solid throughout the playoffs. Overall, he’s 8-3 with a 2.76 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage this postseason.

Lightning want to continue building in Game 4

Meanwhile, the Lightning simply want to build on what they accomplished in Game 3. After a devastating 7-0 loss in Game 2, Tampa Bay has put itself back into the Stanley Cup Final as it aims for a third straight title.

“I think after Game 2, we had nowhere else to go but up,�Lightning coach Jon Cooper told reporters. “We dug ourselves a little bit of a hole in Colorado. We’ve been through this before, so there wasn’t much talked about and we understand that one win is one win, but that’s the past. Just like a 7-0 loss is in the past.�/p>

If the Avalanche can get back to their winning ways, it will likely behind its outstanding power-play unit. Colorado has gone 5-for-11 on the power play during the Stanley Cup Final, and scored both of its goals in Game 3 with a man advantage.

Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri might even be back with the second power-play unit for Game 4, as he skated with the team Wednesday morning. He hasn’t played since suffering a hand injury in Game 3 of the Western Conference final.

“If he can do all the functions that it takes to play a hockey game and he’s feeling comfortable with it, then he’s a guy we would put back in,�Bednar said of Kadri. “He’s been skating. The legs feel good. “It’s just about managing the pain he’s dealing with.�/p>

Forwards Nikita Kucherov and Nick Paul will both play for Tampa Bay in Game 4 after suffering injuries during Monday’s game. Brayden Point will miss another game as he attempts to return from a lower-body injury.

“I haven’t ruled him out for the series,�Cooper said of Point. “But he’s out for [Game 4].�/p>

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Tampa Bay won at home to grab its first win of the series, which Colorado now leads two games to one.

Lightning show resilience yet again

The Avalanche remain the series favorite, with FanDuel Sportsbook rating Colorado as a -300 pick to win the Stanley Cup. However, Tampa Bay (+240) showed remarkable resilience in avoiding falling into a 3-0 hole.

“There’s a reason why we’re here and there’s a reason why we won tonight,�Lightning coach Jon Cooper told reporters after the win. “There’s a reason why this has gone on for the last couple of years.�/p>

Colorado nearly opened the scoring early in Game 3 as Avalanche winger Valeri Nichuskin appeared to score in the first period. Tampa Bay decided to challenge the call. After a long review, officials determined that Colorado defenseman Bowen Byram moved the puck outside the offensive zone, meaning the play was offside.

“That’s how close it was,�Cooper said, addressing the long delay in his decision to challenge, as well as the lengthy review itself. “I don’t know how many angles they looked at, but it must have been a bunch for it to take that long. At the very end, an angle came in. It was an end-zone angle and I don’t know where we got it from. The guys inside couldn’t tell if it was white or if it was grainy. And I said, ‘Well, let’s go with the white.’�/p>

The outstanding power-play unit for the Avalanche scored soon thereafter anyway, with Gabriel Landeskog giving Colorado a 1-0 lead. The Lightning scored the next three goals.

Landeskog again scored on the power play in the second period to cut the deficit to one, but that was the closest the Avalanche would get. The Lightning scored three more unanswered goals in the second period to close out the scoring in Game 3.

Kuemper struggles for Colorado in Game 3

Colorado pulled goaltender Darcy Kuemper after the fifth Lightning goal. The Avalanche are now mum on who will get the start in net for Game 4.

“He didn’t have a good night,�Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said of Kuemper, who gave up five goals on 22 shots. “Neither did our team. We win as a team, lose as a team. Group him in with everybody else. Just wasn’t as good as we needed to be.�/p>

Pavel Francouz closed out Game 3 for Colorado, making nine saves on 10 shots.

On the other hand, Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy rebounded well from his poor performance in Game 2, stopping 37 of 39 shots in Monday’s win.

“For him to go through what he went through two nights ago and then perform like he did tonight �not only that, but to have them score first and then have the team to respond and back him up, I guess that’s how you get to the places that we’ve been.�/p>

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FanDuel Sportsbook sees Game 3 as a pure toss-up, offering -110 odds on both the home Lightning and visiting Avalanche on Monday night.

Lightning see no reason to panic

Colorado holds a decisive 2-0 edge in the Stanley Cup Final after crushing Tampa Bay 7-0 in Saturday’s Game 2. FanDuel now lists the Avalanche as a massive -600 favorite over the Lightning (+500) in the series overall.

Tampa Bay can still get back in the series. After all, they haven’t lost a home game yet, and a couple of wins at Amalie Arena would change the tenor of the series. That’s why the Lightning aren’t panicking �at least not yet.

“Let’s just go out there and find our best game right now,�Tampa Bay forward Pat Maroon told reporters. “They haven’t seen our best, so we’re excited. Hopefully we can show them our best tonight.�/p>

Tampa Bay played 17 playoff games heading into the Stanley Cup Final, compared to just 14 for Colorado. In the past three seasons, the Lightning have played a total of 67 postseason games on their way to winning two titles and reaching the final again this year.

That’s led some to speculate that Tampa Bay might be suffering from fatigue accumulated over three deep playoff runs. Head coach Jon Cooper dismissed that as a factor.

“I’d rather be playing hockey than having a five-month summer every year,�Cooper told reporters. “The toll is taken in the playoffs �the shot-blocking, the groins, the hips, the cuts, the bruises, playing every second night. That’s the toll. And so when you get to the end, even though it doesn’t look like they’re banged up, they’re missing guys, we’re missing guys. We’ve got banged-up guys. That’s what the playoff toll does. It’s not what happened last year.�/p>

Avalanche rolling toward Stanley Cup title

The Avalanche can virtually put away the Stanley Cup Final if they win Game 3. Colorado has dominated all year long and throughout the playoffs. Coming off of their outstanding performance in Game 2, the Avalanche are riding a high that could carry them to a title.

The one thing coach Jared Bednar wants to ensure is that his team stays focused on the ultimate goal.

“It’s one performance,�Bednar said of the Game 2 blowout. “We need four or more great performances because you’re going to have to have a great performance to win in the Stanley Cup Final and we’re halfway there with two wins. We’re going to have to play some really good hockey here going forward. We know the job’s going to be that much tougher going into Tampa.�/p>

Tampa Bay might feel as though its back is against the wall, but the Lightning have been here before and know they can come back.

“We’re in the same situation as we were against the Rangers, going home 0-2,�Lightning forward Corey Perry told reporters. “We found a way to win Game 3 at the end of the game there. It rejuvenated us, it got us going again and now we’re going home.�/p>

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The Avalanche stand as a -154 home favorite over the Lightning (+128) in Game 2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Cooper: It’s about winning series, not a game

Over the course of their two Stanley Cup winning campaigns, the Lightning never lost two straight games. While the Rangers broke that streak in the last round, that doesn’t change the fact that Tampa Bay has been incredibly resilient in the postseason.

That could come in handy now that it trails a dominant Colorado team in the Stanley Cup Final. The Lightning have fallen behind 1-0 twice already in the postseason, and head coach Jon Cooper says his team can do it again.

 “It’s about winning the series. It’s not about winning Game 1,�Cooper told reporters. “Would we like to win every single game? There’s no question. But we’ve also started out on the road for all four series, so the fact that we’ve won one of them is kind of a bonus on our side. But it’s about winning the series.�/p>

Meanwhile, the Avalanche have won virtually every game this postseason. With their win in Game 1, Colorado has now gone 13-2 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Yet coach Jared Bednar says there’s still room for improvement on his team.

“We look at that game last night,�Bednar told reporters. “We liked large portions of it, didn’t like portions of it. Some of the things that we can correct. Regardless of how Tampa plays, we have a certain identity that we need to play to be successful.�/p>

Avalanche expect best from Tampa Bay in Game 2

Bednar is well aware that Tampa Bay has come back from deficits before. He says that studying the Lightning in prior rounds could provide the key to preventing a comeback in the Stanley Cup Final.

“We looked at all their playoff series,�Bednar said. “We saw the success that the Rangers had in Game 1 and 2, also looked at reasons that we felt why they didn’t have so much success as the series went on…one of the teams that we looked at closely, and I spent a lot of time on, was the Leafs. It was obviously a great series, it was a dynamic series. And I see a lot of similarities in the Leafs’ play, personnel, to ours.�/p>

Lightning captain Steven Stamkos hinted at one way in which Tampa Bay could improve their approach against the Avalanche in Game 2.

“Maybe we sat back and tried to defend a little too much in terms of not attacking and trying to just sit back,�Stamkos told reporters. “I’m confident in our group’s ability to make some adjustments and I know we will come out a lot better next game.�/p>

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