TAMPA, Florida – After a game one loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, the Tampa Bay Lightning took the next two days to process what was nearly an opening-series win. If not for a two-minute span where they allowed two late goals in an uncharacteristically low-scoring game, the home team would have rolled into game two with momentum. As it was, they learned from their experience and delivered a solid 4-3 victory in game two.
On the strength of Jason Garrison’s power play goal to take a 4-3 lead and two assists from defenseman Victor Hedman, the Lightning tied the series with the Blackhawks. The Final now shifts to Chicago for game three and game four before returning to Tampa for game five.
But all is not good for Tampa Bay, as starting goaltender Ben Bishop left the game on two occasions in the third period. Vasilevskiy replaced him at 7:17 of the third period, but then returned to the bench as Bishop came on during the celebration of Garrison’s goal. He stayed until 7:41 remained in the game where Vasilevskiy took it the rest of the way to secure the victory.
The game began with good flow, back and forth, each pushing for the early edge in similar fashion as game one began. Jonathan Drouin, inserted into the line-up for game two, started with good speed and had a solid change on his first shift. While it did not come from his stick, just like in game one, the Lightning lit the lamp first.
Just more than thirteen minutes into the game, Chicago defenseman Kyle Cumiskey was bumped off the puck by Tampa Bay’s Ryan Callahan, negating the icing call. Callahan centered it in front where J.T. Brown corralled the puck, firing it on net where Crawford made the save. The puck came back out to the slot where Cedric Paquette took it from the slot, firing a shot along the ice, beating Crawford for the goal low stick side. It was his second of the playoffs with assists going to Callahan and Hedman.
The Lightning had several chances in the period, perhaps the best involving a two-on-one break involving Alex Killorn and captain Steven Stamkos. Crawford just barely was able to steer aside the Lightning captain’s drive to keep Chicago in the period.
The Blackhawks had their own chances, one involving a giveaway by Drouin in his own zone. With just under five minutes remaining in the period, Jonathan Toews accepted a pass from Brandon Saad and slipped in alone on Bishop. The Lightning goaltender squeezed his pads, killing what was perhaps Chicago’s best opportunity of the period.
Just a few minutes later, Tampa Bay headed to the power play, their first of the game. Chicago’s Johnny Oduya was called for tripping Tampa Bay’s Valtteri Filppula with less than two minutes remaining in the period, but the Lightning could not get a shot on goal.
Tampa Bay outshot Chicago 12-11 and held the edge in hits 19-13. Each team won 9 face-offs, but the Lightning held the 1-0 lead
Chicago killed the penalty, but as time expired on it, Anton Stralman laid into a blistering drive which Crawford saved awkwardly and high off his chest. It was the first of several saves which seemed to indicate Crawford was a bit timid and unsure of himself.
Not long after the play, Chicago struck back tying the score just more than three minutes into the second period. The Blackhawks were pressuring Tampa Bay, cycling inside the Lightning zone. Marcus Kruger, dug the puck out to the right of Bishop before passing it to Andrew Desjadrins. He sent the puck back to the left point where Johnny Oduya fired it on net. While screened, Bishop stopped the initial shot which dropped down flatly in the crease where Andrew Shaw swatted it nto the open net. It was Shaw’s fifth of the playoffs, tying the score 1-1.
Chicago quickly added to their total, Alex Killorn was called for hooking Chicago’s Brad Richards putting the Blackhawks on their first power play of the night. It took just 0:54 for Chicago to cash in when Teuvo Teravainen took a pass off a give-and-go play from Marian Hossa to give the Blackhawks a 2-1 lead. It was Teravainen’s second goal of the Final and third point of the series.
It didn’t take long for Tampa Bay to answer. Just 1:32 in, Garrison let go of a low blast from the left point which Nikita Kucherov deflected past Crawford for his 10th goal of the playoffs to tie the game 2-2. It was just the answer the Lightning needed after surrendering the pace and score to Chicago after opening the scoring.
Just more than nine minutes into the period, Tampa Bay’s Braydon Coburn was called for holding Chicago’s Kris Versteeg and the Blackhawks went on the power play. The Lightning kept them at bay.
With just more than six minutes to play, Tampa Bay kept their energy going in the Chicago zone. Tyler Johnson took the puck from the side of the goal and backhanded the puck toward Crawford. The Chicago goaltender made the initial save to his right, but the puck seemed to drop right onto his pad before Johnson swatted at it again, banging it past Crawford and into the goal for the 3-2 lead. It was his thirteenth of the playoffs and injected life into the Amalie Arena.
Tampa Bay knew they needed to keep up the pace with Chicago and nearly extended their lead with less than forty-five seconds to play. Victor Hedman carried the puck into the zone and behind the net. When he slipped to the side of the goal and behind Crawford, he fired a centering pass toward the top of the crease. That’s where J.T. Brown got the back of his stick blade on the puck, deflecting it to the far post, clanging it off the iron and wide.
As Tampa Bay kept applying the pressure, Nikita Kucherov laid Johnny Oduya into the corner with a thundering hit with three seconds remaining in the period. This raised the temperament of the Blackhawks at the buzzer and set the tone for the final period. No penalties were called on the play.
Tampa Bay ended the period leading in shots 10-8 and 22-19 for the game. They also lead in the hitting category, pounding Chicago with a 28-18 advantage. Shockingly, though, Chicago led the period in face-offs 14-5, but trailed in the score 3-2.
Knowing they needed to come out fast against Tampa Bay, the Blackhawks came out quick with two quick chances on Bishop in the opening minute, one my Hjalmarsson, the other by Shaw. Bishop turned aside both.
But he wouldn’t be so lucky at 3:36 of the period. Chicago moved the puck up the middle and got the puck to Jonathan Toews in the neutral zone. He crossed the Tampa Bay line and held onto it while skating along the line, waiting for teammates. He sensed Seabrook trailing and then turned, feeding him a pass.
Seabrook laid into it as Hossa and Brandon Saad crashed the net. The cannon of a blast went in off the inside of the right post, untouched by anything on the way in, tying the game 3-3. Tampa Bay protested interference, but there was none and the goal stood. Replays, in fact, showed Hossa’s stick interfering with Bishop’s left pad.
Consecutive penalties by Patrick Sharp put Chicago in a tough spot. Sharp was called for slashing Anton Stralman and the Blackhawks killed it off. But then he was called again, 18 seconds later, this time for high-sticking Ryan Callahan. While on the man-advantage and just before the penalty expired, Victor Hedman held the puck at the left point and slid the pass to a waiting Jason Garrison at the right point. He fired on net where the puck struck the stick of Chicago’s Andrew Desjardins and past Crawford for 4-3 Tampa Bay lead.
With under seven minutes remaining, there was a little drama, brought on by a delay-of-game penalty to Andrej Sustr. Thanks to several incredible saves by Vasilevskiy, the Lightning survived.
As the game drew to a close, Chicago pressured with lots of chances in the Lighting zone. Tampa Bay went with two centermen and three defensemen with three minutes to play, but Vasilevskiy was solid.
With under two remaining, Crawford was pulled for the extra attacker and Chicago swarmed the Tampa Bay zone, but could not penetrate the Lightning protection around the net.
Chicago did everything, but score in the last 16:22, dominating in shots 10-2 and in face-offs 12-5, but had no success after Seabrook’s goal early in the third.
Tampa Bay goaltender Ben Bishop exited the game having stopping 19 of 21 shots while Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped all 3 he faced, including 2 on the late power play. Chicago Corey Crawford finished with 19 saves on 22 shots.
Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa have combined for two assists, ten shots and an even rating in two Final games. They will look to get back on track when they return home for the next two games.
Game 3 is set for Monday night at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Face-off is set for 8:00 PM ET and is being televised on NBC, CBC, TVA Sports. The schedule for the remaining games in the Stanley Cup Final are listed below.
Game 4 Wed., June 10th at 8 p.m. Tampa Bay at Chicago NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
Game 5 Sat., June 13th at 8 p.m. Chicago at Tampa Bay NBC, CBC, TVA Sports
*Game 6 Mon., June 15th at 8 p.m. Tampa Bay at Chicago NBC, CBC, TVA Sports
*Game 7 Wed., June 17th at 8 p.m. Chicago at Tampa Bay NBC, CBC, TVA Sports
* if necessary
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