When the playoffs arrive, scoring depth will matter. It is important for the third and fourth lines to be independent, functioning entities, yet still capable of supporting the forward core. Against the Rangers last night, Tampa Bay surged out to a 5-1 lead in the second period, having racked up a 21-5 shot margin in the first frame, and it was Chris Kunitz, Adam Erne, and Anthony Cirelli who carried out the beatdown. Role players have standout games on occasion; that is not unusual. But what was significant about last night is that the ancillary players are succeeding because they are in position to exploit less talented adversaries.
Kunitz has carved out an illustrious career from winning puck battles and races, and being in the right place at the right time. He is the template for a sustained NHL career for both Erne and Cirelli.
On Chris Kunitz’s assist that gave the Lightning an early 1-0 lead, Victor Hedman batted the puck toward Kunitz to force a turnover in the neutral zone, and with some help from Ryan Callahan, Kunitz suddenly spearheaded a 2-on-1 odd man rush. Kunitz is smart, and his shot was placed perfectly toward the far post, on Lundqvist’s glove side, so the rebound plopped onto Cedric Paquette’s lap.
The Erne goal was achieved through adept positioning. When the Lightning went up 2-0, Cirelli and Erne used their speed and skill to gleefully manipulate momentum. After Cirelli won the faceoff, Rangers forward Kevin Hayes came away with the puck to exit the zone. But Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman stepped up and produced a turnover, and Cirelli was right there to scoop up the puck and go bouncing off toward the blue line on the counterattack.
Cirelli’s attempt to chip the puck deep failed. Yet, Erne and Alex Killorn helped disrupt the zone exit, allowing Cirelli to dig the puck out of his skates just above the right circle and swat it toward Erne, who outmaneuvered Brady Skjei’s stick-check to finish the action. The puck never made it far past the red line, or crossed the blue line, because Cirelli and Erne were engaged participants on the backcheck, and poised to utilize their skating to power toward the inside.
Cirelli’s marker to give the Lightning a 3-0 lead was a swifter and more brutal use of force. The Rangers were playing chase as Tampa Bay won the faceoff, Killorn easily gained entry to the zone, and the world turned sideways for the Rangers. Erne retrieved Killorn’s shot attempt, then swung the puck below the goal line to Killorn, who transported it to the hash mark before guiding it to Mikhail Sergachev. Sergachev took possession, and ripped a shot off-center for Cirelli to deflect past Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.
As Sergachev pulled the puck toward the center, Cirelli spun off the goal line and beat Kevin Hayes to the low slot, adding two options for Sergachev to shoot toward. (Erne is slightly right of center.) Again, this is positioning and skating. Cirelli isn’t the biggest body, but he slid past the brawnier Hayes, gravitating toward the slot.
On Kunitz’s goal in the second period, the eventual game-winner, Erne and Cirelli won five races and puck battles, which generated Kunitz’s easy tally. Hockey speed is funny. It is easy to identify in a linear capacity – Carl Hagelin straight-ahead chasing, or Mike Hoffman rocketing up the ice with the puck in tow – but more difficult to grasp when space becomes more congested. But Kunitz, Erne and Cirelli consistently put themselves in positions to positively impact the Lightning, and come postseason, having role players with considerable skill exerting the squeeze on opponents is a comfort worth savoring.