Nhl Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Final Edition – September 21, 2020
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NHL MORNING SKATE: STANLEY CUP FINAL EDITION – SEPTEMBER 21, 2020 THREE HARD LAPS * The Stars aim to take a 2-0 series lead in a Stanley Cup Final for the first time in franchise history and are on the hunt for their fifth straight win. * The Lightning, who trail 0-1 in a series for the second time in 2020 (also R2 vs. BOS), enter Game 2 with a 5-0 record this postseason following a loss, outscoring their opponent 16-9 in those games. * Twenty-one-year-old Miro Heiskanen (5-18—23 in 22 GP) looks to continue to climb the NHL all-time list for most points by a defenseman in a single playoff year. STREAKING STARS AIM FOR 2-0 SERIES LEAD The Stars look to earn their fifth straight win Monday with an opportunity to take a 2-0 series lead in a Stanley Cup Final for the first time in franchise history. * Dallas, which is 4-0 in its last four games, can establish its second win streak of five or more contests this postseason (5-0 from Game 4 of R1 to Game 2 of R2). It would mark the first time in Stars/North Stars franchise history in which they recorded multiple win streaks of five or more games in a single playoff year. * The Stars can become the sixth team in the last 25 years to post multiple win streaks of five or more games in a postseason. They would join Vegas (5 GP & 5 GP in 2018), Anaheim (6 GP & 5 GP in 2003), Detroit (6 GP & 5 GP in 1997), Colorado (5 GP & 5 GP in 1996) and New Jersey (6 GP & 6 GP in 1995) — the latter three went on to win the Stanley Cup. * Anton Khudobin, who has been in net for Dallas in each contest since Game 3 of the First Round, can also earn his fifth consecutive win for the second time this postseason – a feat not yet achieved by a Stars/North Stars goaltender. The only netminders on any team to do so in the last 25 years are the ones from the aforementioned win streaks: Marc-Andre Fleury (VGK in 2018), Jean-Sebastien Giguere (ANA in 2003), Mike Vernon (DET in 1997), Patrick Roy (COL in 1996) and Martin Brodeur (NJD in 1995). LIGHTNING LOOK TO ONCE AGAIN REBOUND IN GAME 2 OF FINAL The Lightning, who trail 0-1 for the second time this postseason (also R2 vs. BOS), are in familiar territory after losing Game 1 for the third time in as many Stanley Cup Final appearances. Tampa Bay won Game 2 in each prior instance, including in 2015 when Andrei Vasilevskiy became the fourth goaltender in Stanley Cup Final history to win a game he did not start. * Tampa Bay has rallied to tie a Stanley Cup Final series four times in franchise history. During their 2004 championship run, the Lightning tied the series three times (Game 2, Game 4 and Game 6) before winning Game 7 for the franchise's first Stanley Cup. Tampa Bay owns an all- time record of 4-2 after a loss in the Final. * The Lightning are 5-0 this postseason following a loss, outscoring their opponent 16-9 in those games. Nikita Kucherov (1-6—7 in 5 GP) and Brayden Point (4-2—6 in 5 GP) have led the team in points across those five victories. * Tampa Bay went 16-8-2 following a loss during the 2019-20 regular season for the third-best win percentage (.615) among all teams, trailing the Capitals (.630) and Rangers (.625). * Vasilevskiy owns a 5-0 record in games following a loss during the 2020 postseason, posting a 1.32 goals-against average and .943 save percentage in those contests. The only goaltender with as many wins following a loss this postseason is Final opponent Anton Khudobin (5-1). HEISKANEN SITS AMONG HALL OF FAMERS ON PLAYOFF POINTS LIST Miro Heiskanen collected an assist on the winning goal in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final to boost his 2020 postseason totals to 5-18—23 in 22 games, continuing his climb of the NHL’s all- time list for most points by a defenseman in a single playoff year. * Twenty-one-year-old Heiskanen’s playoff scoring has already been highlighted by a number of notable accomplishments — becoming the fourth-youngest defenseman in NHL history to score multiple goals in a playoff game, establishing a franchise record for longest playoff point streak by a defenseman (3-10—13 in 8 GP) and recording the most playoff points by an NHL defenseman before age 22 (7-20—27 in 35 GP). * Of the seven defensemen who have recorded more points in a single playoff year than Heiskanen (21 years, 65 days), only two were under age 25 at the time of their last postseason game that year: Paul Coffey (23 years, 363 days) and Bobby Orr (24 years, 52 days). STANLEY CUP FINAL: GAME 2 QUICK HITS * Dallas is 25-31 (.446) in Game 2 of a best-of-seven series all time; Tampa Bay is 17-10 (.630). * When leading 1-0 in a Stanley Cup Final, the Stars/North Stars franchise own an all-time series record of 0-1 (.000). When trailing 1-0 in a Stanley Cup Final series, the Lightning are 1-1 (.500). * Teams which take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven series in the Stanley Cup Final own an all-time record of 46-5 (.902). * A team has overcome a 2-0 series deficit to win the Final twice in the past 48 years: the 2011 Bruins against the Canucks and the 2009 Penguins against the Red Wings. FINAL FIVE NHL AWARDS TO BE REVEALED TONIGHT The winners of the remaining five regular-season trophies will be revealed tonight during “2020 NHL Awards presented by Las Vegas,” a 30-minute show that will air at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN in the U.S. as well as Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada. * The program will announce the winners of the 2019-20 Calder Memorial Trophy, Hart Memorial Trophy, James Norris Memorial Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award and Vezina Trophy live from Edmonton’s Rogers Place. It will include Oilers greats presenting the five remaining awards: Wayne Gretzky (Calder/Hart), Mark Messier (Lindsay), Grant Fuhr (Vezina) and Paul Coffey (Norris). * Finalists and already announced winners of 2019-20 regular-season trophies can be found here, with more information available via the 2020 NHL Awards presented by Las Vegas Information Guide. MEDIA REMINDER: Schedules and recordings of all Zoom media availabilities (including post- game) and practices are available daily on the NHL’s media site – you must have an account to access this content. The 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs Information Guide as well as team playoff media guides also are available on the site. QUICK CLICKS * Anton Khudobin proves resilient on road to Stanley Cup Final as Stars goalie * Stanley Cup appearance for Game 1 sets tone for unique Final * Phil Pritchard, Stanley Cup awaiting time in spotlight with Stars or Lightning * Al Langlois dies at 85, was three-time Stanley Cup champion with Canadiens .