TAMPA, Fla. -- A group of young, emerging prospects are moving to the forefront in the first round of the NHL playoffs. Of course, there are several key veterans having an impact on their series as well.
When it comes to making a run for the Stanley Cup, this is the time of year for the league's biggest stars.
Daniel Sedin and Vancouver are hoping to draw even in their first-round series against Calgary when they take on the Flames in Game 6 tonight. Tampa Bay's Tyler Johnson, Nashville's Filip Forsberg and Washington's Evgeny Kuznetsov also are back in action in their respective series.
"I love the playoffs. It's the most fun," said Johnson, who led a stirring comeback that evened the Lightning's series against Detroit at two games apiece. "(Regular) seasons are great, but don't stand anywhere close to the playoffs."
While Tampa Bay star Steven Stamkos is searching for his first goal of the post-season, Johnson has stepped up with four in his team's two wins. His first goal Thursday night ended a stretch in which the Lightning went 118 minutes without scoring. The second ended Game 4 against the Red Wings 2:25 into overtime.
Stamkos, a two-time league scoring champion, was second in the league with 43 goals this season. Johnson scored 29 and matched Stamkos for the team lead with 72 points. He has a knack for delivering when Tampa Bay needs it the most.
"If we all could do it, we'd be doing it," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "But there just seems to be guys that have that 'it' factor."
While the Lightning look to take control in Game 5 tonight, the Capitals have a chance to finish off the New York Islanders after Kuznetsov scored twice to help Washington go up 3-2 in the series.
Sedin broke a third-period tie as Vancouver extended Calgary to a sixth game, and Forsberg's first career hat trick helped Nashville win an elimination game for the first time in franchise history, although the Chicago Blackhawks still hold a 3-2 advantage in that series.
