In a series where NHL superstars like Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are on the ice at any given moment, an unsung hero is stealing the headlines in the Stanley Cup Final.
Lightning center Cedric Paquette scored the opening goal in Game 2 and then netted the game-winner in Game 3.
“It’s good to chip in,” a soft-spoken Paquette noted. “Me and (Ryan Callahan) were frustrated a bit in the first couple rounds, but we are playing well and goals are coming.”
Tampa Bay relied heavily on its top two lines through the first three rounds of the playoffs. The Triplets Line (Johnson-Palat-Kucherov) has scored 31 of the team’s 62 goals. Now the Bolts are finally getting secondary scoring from the likes of Paquette, Callahan and Brian Boyle.
“These guys have elevated their game,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “They don’t probably get recognized for how they are playing away from the puck defensively. Sometimes you have to score for people to get noticed,” he continued. “But you should see the excitement on our bench when these guys score. It’s awesome.”
The Paquette line has often been paired against Chicago’s most dangerous set of forwards. In Game 3, it was a lethal combination of Toews, Brandon Saad and Marian Hossa. Despite that Chicago line’s usual effectiveness, it’s worth noting that Toews and Patrick Kane, the Blackhawks most recognizable stars, have not scored in the Stanley Cup Final. Combined, the pair has contributed just one assist.
“Well, he gets in the way, right? He’s in the right spots,” Boyle said when asked about Paquette. “He plays physical. He won’t back down.”
Boyle, who makes a living in front of the opponent’s net, has had to cope with Paquette plenty in practice.
“Coming into camp in September, trying to get ready for a season with a new team, start trying to feel the puck a little bit, get some confidence going, he wouldn’t let me do it,” Boyle recalled. “It was funny to see. I said, who is this guy? That’s Ceddy.”
“The way he’s been playing, he’s been a huge part of this so far. We’re going to need him to keep doing that.”
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