Stanley Cup Final: Breakdowns that plagued Avalanche in Game 3 must be corrected to avoid seeing series tied

TAMPA, Fla. – If defending well is a total team effort — 12 forwards, six defensemen and one goalie all working as one – so is defending poorly.

The Avalanche’s 7-0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final was a masterclass; the Lightning had only 16 shots on goal.

But the Avalanche’s 6-2 loss in Monday’s Game 3 was the complete opposite.

The Lightning had 20 scoring chances (compared to six in Game 2) and nine “high danger” opportunities (compared to four in Game 2), according to Natural Stat Trick. The Lightning saved its season by cutting the Avalanche’s series lead to 2-1.

“It was definitely their night,” Avs defenseman Jack Johnson said. “There are a lot of things we can clean up in our end.”

The clean-up starts with the Avs’ top defensive pairing and one of their top defensive forwards.

Leading the way at minus-3 in Game 3 were winger Artturi Lehkonen (worst of 50-game playoff career) and defenseman Cale Makar (worst of 52-game playoff career) and Devon Toews (tied for worst in 53-game playoff career). Seven players were at least a minus-2.

“I think some unfortunate breaks went their way and anytime we made a mistake, it ended up in the back of our net,” Toews said Tuesday after the Avalanche’s optional practice ahead of Wednesday’s Game 4.

Each of Tampa Bay’s first five goals — all scored on even strength — had a common theme. The Lightning had time and space to operate. It took advantage of out-of-character breakdowns by the Avalanche. And, as Avs coach Jared Bednar said Monday night after the game and reiterated Tuesday, the Lightning played with a higher level of “desperation,” which means they won board-and-puck battles.

“They executed quickly on our mistakes,” Bednar said. “In the first couple of games, we didn’t do that so we’ll look at it.”

Here’s a look at the Lightning’s first five goals, all against Darcy Kuemper.

13:03, 1st period

Lightning center Anthony Cirelli carried the puck over the blue-line before passing left to winger Pat Maroon. Makar took the puck carrier (Maroon), but Toews allowed Cirelli to charge toward the net uncovered instead of getting in his path.

Cirelli collected Maroon’s return pass and scored to make it 1-1 even after fanning on the shot.

“I was trying to take it to the net and I fumbled it and I was lucky enough to go five-hole (through Kuemper),” Cirelli said.

14:45, 1st period

An unfortunate sequence for the Avalanche, which won the offensive zone faceoff. Toews attempted a cross-ice pass to Makar, but either didn’t get enough velocity on it or the pass lost momentum because of the ice conditions.

The Lightning went the other way with a 2-on-2 with wingers Ondrej Palat and Nikita Kucherov. They crisscrossed after entering the Avs’ zone.

Palat dropped the puck back to center Steven Stamkos, who then returned the pass to Palat for the goal when Avs winger Mikko Rantanen skated too deep into the zone (leaving Palat unmarked in the slot) and Lehkonen appeared to be tardy on the back-check.

Tampa Bay had its first lead of the series and had seized possession of prime in-front-of-net real estate.

“Three ‘Grade A’ (attempts) in the slot — you can’t really ask for a goalie to make every save when you’re giving up chances like that,” Rantanen said. “It’s just about finding the guy behind you.”

1:26, 2nd period

The Lightning dumped the puck into the Avs zone and it was first mishandled and then collected by Avs defenseman Josh Manson. A total breakdown followed.

Manson made a blind pass up the right wall, but nobody was there except for Tampa Bay’s Ross Colton. Because defense partner Jack Johnson was making himself available for a pass, he was behind the goal-line. And because center Darren Helm was likely anticipating Manson to make that pass or carry it behind the goal, he was also below the goal-line setting a screen.

Players out of position, Colton fed winger Nick Paul in the slot for the goal.

7:52, 2nd period

Stamkos may not have more time in the slot to score a goal. The Lightning made it 4-2 when Kucherov won a quick end-board battle against Avs defenseman Erik Johnson and delivered a back-handed pass to Stamkos in the slot.

Open because both Avs defensemen (Johnson and Toews) weren’t in front of the goal, Stamkos had time to spin around and sizzle a shot past Kuemper.

11:15, 2nd period

Maroon flew out of the penalty box and received a stretch pass from defenseman Victor Hedman. He dropped the puck back to Kucherov and headed toward the goal, where he flipped a backhander over Kuemper to make it 5-2 and end Kuemper’s night.

Expect the Avalanche to re-group and return to its defensive structure. After a 4-1 loss to St. Louis in Game 2 of the teams’ series, the Avs allowed only seven goals in their next three wins over the Blues. And after winning an 8-6 track meet in Game 1 over Edmonton, the Avs allowed only two goals over the next two games.

The Avalanche felt it played well offensively (39 shots) on Monday and its power play is cooking (5 of 11). Take away some of the Lightning’s offensive zone breathing room and the Avs will escape Florida with a split.

“It wasn’t our best game for sure,” Lehkonen said. “We’ve just got to clean up a few things (and) not give them chances in the slot. They’re good players (and) they’re going to capitalize on those. We’ve just got to stay alert the whole time.”

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