TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Tyler Johnson’s path to the Stanley Cup Final is hardly the one he envisioned.
The budding Tampa Bay Lightning star began his pro career as an undrafted prospect supposedly too small to succeed. He’s rapidly making a name for himself as part of the exciting young “Triplets” line that’s been one of the keys to his team’s strong playoff run.
Steven Stamkos may by the Lightning captain and face of the franchise. Johnson and linemates Ondrej Palat and Nikita Kucherov are proving Tampa Bay is much more than a one-man show.
The speedy trio, which began playing with each other in the minor leagues, has accounted for more half of the Lightning’s 55 goals this postseason.
Johnson, 24, leads the way with 12 – five more than Stamkos, whose 43 goals ranked second in the NHL to Alex Ovechkin’s 53 during the regular season. Kucherov, 21, has nine, and Palat, 24, has seven.