Solid start to build on for goaltender Lagace
TAMPA — With every Montreal shot that was turned away, goaltender Max Lagace looked more comfortable in net.
Despite allowing 4 goals — 2 in the third period — his Tampa Bay Lightning debut Tuesday night was notable, especially given the circumstances.
With regular goaltenders Andrei Vasilevskiy and Brian Elliott in COVID-19 protocol, the team was forced to call up Lagace, 28, and fellow AHL Syracuse goaltender Hugo Alnefelt on Monday evening.
In the 5-4 overtime win over the Canadiens, Lagace stopped 27 of 31 shots on goal (13 of which were considered high-danger chances at even strength).
With the league and the players’ association agreeing Wednesday to reduce the isolation period to five days with a negative test (in the United States; Canada still maintains stricter pandemic regulations) — following recent recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — the normal goaltending pair could return as early as Friday, when the Lightning host the N.Y. Rangers.
But if not, Lagace and Alnefelt are expected to split the back-toback games starting Thursday at Florida.
With Tuesday’s win, Lightning interim head coach Derek Lalonde, who is filling in while Jon Cooper remains in COVID protocol, believes Lagace can build off the experience for his next start.
Coming in, the staff noticed he was a little rusty having not played since Dec. 15 with the Crunch in a 4-2 win over the Toronto Marlies. Since that game, Syracuse has dealt with its own coronavirus issues, forcing postponements until play resumes Jan. 5.
“He hasn’t really had a lot of time on the ice,” Lalonde said. “There was enough volume in [Tuesday’s] game, some different looks in different situations. … We’re confident he’ll give us another good performance next time.”
In the first period, the Canadiens hit hard from the start. Less than five minutes after puck drop, forward Brendan Gallagher gave Montreal its first dangerous look as he raced down the ice with Jonathan Drouin.
Gallagher carried the puck into the right face-off circle and saw Drouin moving down the slot. Gallagher then tossed the rubber across the ice and it trickled over the stick of Lightning defenseman Jan Rutta, who was trying to break up the play, putting it in a vulnerable position for Lagace.
He quickly moved across the crease to block Drouin’s tap with his right pad, preventing a potential goal. It was moves like this that made Lagace’s play valuable as the Lightning fielded a somewhat depleted lineup that also was missing center Anthony Cirelli and defenseman Mikhail Sergachev.
“It’s not easy when you come out of a Christmas break or they’re out with COVID protocols and all of the above,” forward Corey Perry said. “So for those two guys that came in [defenseman Sean Day made his NHL debut on Tuesday], and especially Max stepping right in and helping us and playing well and giving us a chance. He did a great job.”
In the third period, Lagace turned away 6 shots before allowing Montreal’s Kale Clague to tie the score at 3. Lagace allowed another Canadiens goal about 13 minutes later. In overtime, Montreal couldn’t get a shot off in 36 seconds of play.
Lalonde said Lagace’s confidence helped carry him through his first regular-season NHL start since May 8, a 1-0 shutout win with Pittsburgh against the Buffalo Sabres.
“I wish we were a little better in front of him throughout,” Lalonde said. “We gave up too many looks, too many chances against, but he hung in there with some great saves and ultimately I was really happy that he was rewarded with a win.”