Who is standing out and who is down and out for the Lightning and Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Final

TAMPA, Florida – while most hockey fans can name the big stars on both Stanley Cup Finalists, it is puzzling to many why those same players are not as visible in the playoffs. Names like Kane and Toews, Stamkos and Johnson aren’t lighting the lamp or even helping light the lamp in the Final. But others are contributing with several emerging as Conn Smyth candidates for playoff MVP.

For Chicago, Patrick Kane pumped 27 goals and 37 assists for 64 points and a +10 rating in 61 games, a shortened campaign after breaking his collar bone. Before the Final, Kane 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 point and +4 rating in 17 games. In the Final, #88 has zero goals and 1 assist for a -1 rating. Without Kane, Chicago has been a beatable team and Tampa Bay has neutralized him. He has just 9 shots with none of them touching twine.

Patrick Kane (Patrick Gorski/PHN)

Jonathan Toews has fared a little better in the Cup Final. Toews has 28 goals and 38 assists for 66 points and a +30 rating in 81 regular season games. In the first three rounds of the playoffs, he scored 9 goals and added 9 assists for 18 points and a +5 rating. In the Final, the Chicago captain has one goal and one assist for 2 points and a +1 rating on with 10 shots. He has looked better in the last two games, but not like he has during his first 98 games of the season.

While Kane and Toews has not been themselves, a few other players have stepped out to be the leading offensive edge on Chicago.

Among them, Marian Hossa has had 4 assists in the 4 games and nearly had two goals, one on a wide-open net as he was tripped up. He pumped in 22 goals during the regular season and 4 more leading up to the Final. Maybe he can do more as Chicago needs scoring help.

Teuvo Teravainen started strong with goals in the first two games, but has cooled the last two. He has been dangerous around the net and a threat Tampa Bay has to contend with the remainder of the series. He had 4 goals in 34 games and 2 in the first three playoff rounds, but those two in the first two games seem to indicate his ability to score in clutch situations.

Andrew Shaw continues to have chances, largely by creating havoc in front of the Lightning net. His lone goal and two assists do not come close to measuring up to his value for the Blackhawks. He scored 15 goals in 79 regular season games and another 4 in the first 17 playoffs games. His goals are typically not pretty, but the count the same on the score sheet.

Brandon Saad scored 23 goals and added 29 assists for 52 points and a +7 rating in all 82 regular season games. In the first 17 playoffs games, he scored 6 goals and added 2 assists for 8 points and a +3. In the Final, he has goals in the last two games, including the game-winner. His 11 shots, tied for 2nd on the team, shows he is not afraid to shoot.

For Tampa Bay, captain Steven Stamkos has been the scoring leader for the Lightning the last few years. He has 43 goals and 29 assists while playing in all 82 games this regular season. He added 7 goals and 10 assists, all in the 13 games of the middle two rounds. He has just one assist and a -1 rating in the four Final games.

Tyler Johnson pumped in 29 goals and added 43 helpers for 72 points and a +33 in 77 regular season games. IN 20 playoff games, he added 12 goals and 9 assists for 21 points and a +6, but in the Final, he has just one goal and an assists for two points and a +1 rating.

With Stamkos and Johnson off their regular pace, a few other Tampa Bay players are elevating their game to impact the offense.

Ryan Callahan, acquired late last season for Martin St. Louis, leads Tampa Bay in scoring during the Final. Callahan netted 24 goals and 30 assists for 54 points in 77 games while delivering a +9 rating.IN the Lightning’s first three playoff rounds, he had one goal and 3 assists for 4 points and a +2 rating in 19 games. In the Final, he has one goal and three assists for 4 points, leading the Lightning in scoring, with a +2 rating and 12 shots, the team leader. He has been close to scoring on many occasions against Chicago and his rip over Crawford glove-side shoulder showed what he is capable of doing.

On defense, Victor Hedman has stepped into the scoring discussion and is among the leaders in the playoff MVP race. Hedman tallied 10 goals and 28 assists for 38 points and a +12 rating in 59 regular season games. In the first three rounds of the playoffs, he had one goal and 9 assists for 10 points and a +9 rating in 20 games. In the Final, he has 4 points, all assists and a +1 rating with 11 shots. He has been a difference-maker for Tampa Bay in June.

There is a sense just prior to Saturday night’s game that a star who has not shined so bright will be emerging. The tension in this very tight series where the stars have not shined as they did before June. With the pressure building to make a difference, which player will light the lamp and carry his team in the pivotal stage of the Final?

Game 5 is set for Saturday night at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Face-off is set for 8:00 PM ET and is being televised on NBC, CBC, TVA Sports. The schedule for the remaining games in the Stanley Cup Final are listed below.