Entering the season, there was musing over who would step up to be the Lightning’s fourth best forward. Tyler Johnson has been in the mix in previous seasons, and for two straight seasons, Yanni Gourde registered the fourth most forward points behind Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, and Brayden Point. It seemed possible that Anthony Cirelli would take a leap in his development, and that he could spearhead the secondary scoring after The Big Three should Jon Cooper give him the deserved opportunity of playing in the top six.
Forty-three games into the season we have our answer, and it is Alex Killorn. Killorn is one goal shy of tying his career high in goals as he notched his 18th of the season last night. Assuming good health—and Killorn has been extremely durable over his eight-year NHL career—it is likely Killorn will also shatter his previous career best of 32 assists. He needs only 14 more, and through his unassailable play, he has earned himself a spot on the first power play unit. Killorn also has a 2:1 ratio of goals for vs. allowed at 5v5 (32-16).
Teams do not make the Stanley Cup on the sheer strength of their nucleus. Depth matters enormously. Killorn’s resourcefulness and his modes of success are propitious. Now that the other players have caught up to Killorn in terms of playing to their abilities, the Lightning are killing teams, as demonstrated in last night’s 4-0 victory over the Coyotes.
Killorn excels because he is a creative problem-solver. On his goal last night, he was chasing the puck carrier on a regroup, but then, as he does so seamlessly, he suddenly ducked underneath Jan Rutta to support. Rutta had stepped up on Brad Richardson, and just as the Coyotes forward was fumbling the puck, Killorn was in position to secure possession.
Killorn was in the slot, and never one to let an opportunity pass him by, he ripped a shot on goal from the dot. The shot missed the net and spurred the forecheck, as Cedric Paquette glided toward the puck along the boards and immediately sent it below the goal line. Paquette is a veteran who has watched Killorn play, and as soon as he moved the puck, he darted toward the goal; as he hoped, Killorn took control of the puck and stepped out to the off-slot, setting Paquette up on the back-door cut.
Killorn’s route after the pass is one of a player who understands positioning. As Paquette and Patrick Maroon worked the puck in the corners and behind the net, Killorn flashed to the dot, and then traveled to the point as Victor Hedman needed to pinch up the boards to force a turnover and keep the puck in Lightning possession.
With the Lightning keeping the forecheck alive, Killorn could travel back toward the slot. He took a wending path toward the crease, arriving just as Maroon tossed a backhand on net. Killorn’s subsequent jam at the puck found daylight against Adin Hill.
Killorn played the roles of shooter and playmaker, and he swapped places with Hedman to enable his pinch, which is a layman way of saying that he thrives in the F1, F2, and F3 duties. He is an excellent retriever and is difficult to contain around the net—but, as demonstrated in this sequence, he is eager to play the high forward as well. Killorn is adept at maximizing his strengths and mitigating his weaknesses. He is not the fastest or most skilled player, but he is quicker and more skilled than opponents think, as showcased against Vancouver on Tuesday when he used his acceleration to pull away from not just Tyler Myers, but also Oscar Fantenberg. Killorn’s goal against Minnesota in December, where at high speed he used his leverage and forward speed to knock Mathew Dumba off-kilter while also snapping a shot past Alex Stalock, was a high-skill play.
Cooper started the season teaming Killorn with Mathieu Joseph and Cirelli, and there was a stretch where Killorn joined Stamkos and Cirelli. Now he is playing with Paquette and Maroon. For Killorn this isn’t a demotion. He is the kindling. Paquette and Maroon were snakebit, and Killorn is the solution.
Tampa Bay Lightning Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»