FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, July 5th, 2021

NOTES AND QUOTES – 2021 STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME 4 ON NBC AND PEACOCK

“It’s what’s served them well in these Playoffs. It’s an aggressive style of play. They’re at their best when they’re throwing their bodies around, and clearly that was the message…Going after (Brayden) Point and (Nikita) Kucherov.” – Keith Jones on Canadiens’ Game 4 Performance

“Once you win a game, then you try and create a seed of doubt in the opposition. It takes time, but if you chip away slowly, it can happen.” – Brian Boucher on Canadiens’ Attempt to Comeback in Series

STAMFORD, Conn. – July 5, 2021 – NBC Sports continued its exclusive presentation of the 2021 Stanley Cup Final tonight with Game 4 between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens from Bell Centre in Montreal, Québec, on NBC and Peacock. The Canadiens won the game in overtime, 3-2, trail the series 3-1, and Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final will be presented in Tampa, Fla., this Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk and Brian Boucher called the game on-site from Bell Centre along with Kathryn Tappen and Pierre McGuire providing reports and contributing to pre-game and intermission coverage.

Liam McHugh, Keith Jones, Anson Carter and Patrick Sharp provided studio commentary during intermissions and post-game coverage on NBCSN from NBC Sports’ headquarters in Stamford, Conn.

Tonight’s intermission studio coverage featured Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick, one of the most acclaimed sportscasters of all time, narrating a piece that reflects on NBC Sports’ contributions to the game of hockey during the past 16 years as the exclusive U.S. media partner of the NHL. Click here to view.

Following are notes and quotes from Game 4:

POST-GAME

Jones on Montreal killing off Shea Weber’s penalty in overtime: “The penalty kill is the big reason that Montreal survived…For Weber, he’s going to feel like he’s been shot out of a cannon. When you escape those situations, you come back and your team wins the game in overtime…I would keep an eye on him in the next game.”

Sharp: “I really liked Josh Anderson’s game. Very physical on the forecheck…And Corey Price — we have to pump his tires when he plays well, real big game for the Habs.”

Carter: “Nice bounce-back game for Carey Price, but (the story is) the power play not getting it done for the Tampa Bay Lightning. It’s been a strong part of their game all postseason long.”

OVERTIME

Olczyk on Canadiens forward Josh Anderson’s overtime-winning goal: “The speed of Anderson creates this whole chance and Cole Caufield does an amazing job of going to the front of the net and stopping and staying in front of the net. It’s the whole play.”

THIRD PERIOD

Albert on Lightning forward Pat Maroon’s goal, tied 2-2: “Pat Maroon, looking to win his third straight Stanley Cup, has tied the game.”

Boucher on Canadiens defenseman Alexander Romanov’s goal, 2-1 Montreal: “The screen by (Artturi) Lehkonen — when Lehkonen arrives, the puck arrives. It’s the timing of the screen and a perfectly placed shot by Romanov.”

Olczyk: “We called out Lehkonen’s game a lot in that first and second period…The importance of being in front of that net. He has had an outstanding game — the little things that you need.”

SECOND INTERMISSION

Jones on Montreal’s style of play in Game 4: “It’s what’s served them well in these Playoffs. It’s an aggressive style of play. They’re at their best when they’re throwing their bodies around, and clearly that was the message — going after the star players on the Tampa Bay Lightning. It’s a long list of stars so you have to continue to be aggressive…It’s been working so far for Montreal, going after (Brayden) Point and (Nikita) Kucherov.”

Sharp: “Their backs are clearly against the wall. They’re playing an angry brand of hockey, going after the right guys and they’re giving these star players (on Tampa Bay) something to think about.”

 SECOND PERIOD

Olczyk on Lightning forward Barclay Goodrow’s goal, tied 1-1: “What a play by Ryan McDonagh. Montreal is not able to clear the zone. We talked about the impact of the defense for the Tampa Bay Lighting and Ryan McDonagh makes an unbelievable play. Montreal has this puck and who steps in and shuts it down but McDonagh. Look at this pass — no chance for Carey Price.”

Boucher on Canadiens’ big hits: “It’s not too often you get a chance to line up Brayden Point like that and Shea Weber did not ease up one bit. That’s been a theme in this game — Kucherov and Point are targets.”

Boucher on Canadiens attempting to comeback in the series down 3-0: “You need something to build upon. A period, that’s where you start and that’s what Montreal did in the first period. Then, it’s about win a game and once you win a game, then you try and create a seed of doubt in the opposition. It takes time, but if you chip away slowly, it can happen.”

FIRST INTERMISSION

Sharp on the Canadiens: “I like the pushback from Montreal at the end of the period. They showed some fight, they’re engaged in this one.”

FIRST PERIOD

Boucher on Canadiens forward Josh Anderson’s goal, 1-0 Montreal: “A nice give-and-go between (Nick) Suzuki and (Cole) Caufield, and then a nice job by Caufield to occupy Erik Cernak at the net front. That left Josh Anderson open for what would have been a difficult save for Andrei Vasilevskiy.”

Olczyk on the Canadiens: “They’ve got to have a better Carey Price. He’s just been out-goaltended by Andrei Vasilevskiy. The numbers don’t lie in this series.”

–NBC SPORTS–