Bolts first ever NHL All Star Brian Bradley doesn’t believe in just flipping a switch from the regular season to the playoffs.
That’s why he’s excited to see the Lightning playing so well at the end of the season. For Bradley, it’s clear on how the Bolts can win their third consecutive Stanley Cup. It’s goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.
“He is the best goalie in the NHL”, Bradley said. “You look at the other teams that are gonna make the playoffs. If they had to play one goalie, who they did not want to play in that first round, it’s Vasilevskiy.”
The Lightning are one of the hottest teams right now with a lot of firepower, led by Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov.The talent is not a question for Bradley.
“They definitely have enough to do it,” Bradley said. They’ve got a great defense and a great goaltender. They’ve got guys that can score. They’re missing that 3rd line from last year, but picked up Nick Paul and Brandon Hagel. I like the acquisitions. You know, Ross Colton is playing extremely well. So, the 4th line with (Pat) Maroon, (Corey) Perry and (Pierre-Edouard) Bellemare have been unbelievable. Can they do it again? Absolutely.”
Bradley was on the first ever Lightning team coming by way of the NHL Expansion Draft as the Bolts 36th pick. In Bradley’s first season in Tampa Bay he put up career high numbers for goals (42) and points (86). he knows how important scoring is but again he goes back to Vassy and compares him to Tom Brady and the Bucs.
“When you have Tom Brady as the quarterback, you know what the Bucs can do.” Bradley said. “So Vasilevskiy, he’s the best player on the ice with the Lightning, and when he goes, we go.”
The NHL playoffs start Monday. 16 teams are in, eight from each conference. There are no first round byes.
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