PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: Tampa downs Blackhawks in Game 3

CHICAGO – With just over three minutes left in regulation Cedric Paquette scored off a feed from the corner from Victor Hedman to propel the Tampa Bay Lightning to heartbreaking, 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final Monday night.

The goal completed a rally of sorts for the Lightning who trailed in the third after Chicago took a 2-1 lead early in the period on a goal from Brandon Saad.

Ryan Callahan scored in the first to give Tampa Bay an early 1-0 lead before Brad Richards launched a shot from the blueline that found its way to the back of the net.

Ben Bishop stopped 36 shots on the night including half of those in the first period.

Chicago’s big names continued to struggle in Game 3 with Marian Hossa, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp remaining off the score sheet.

Despite being hobbled by an undisclosed “injury” Bishop was solid in net even though he struggled regaining his footing during the game.

Bishop said after the game he felt good and did feel better after the first period when he stopped 18 shots from the Blackhawks.

For Chicago, two games had the club concerned for the absence of their top scorers in Toews and Kane. Now the drought is at three games and the way the Lightning are playing defense and closing gaps as the Blackhawks attempt to rush up ice there is real worry among the team for the series as Game 4 looms as a real test of whether the Blackhawks will respond.

Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) gets up after Chicago Blackhawks right wing Marian Hossa (81) steals the puck. (Patrick Gorski/PHN)

Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop (30) and Chicago Blackhawks center Andrew Shaw (65) watch the puck in front of the net. (Patrick Gorski/PHN)

Chicago Blackhawks center Antoine Vermette (80) and Chicago Blackhawks left wing Teuvo Teravainen (86) watch the puck. (Patrick Gorski/PHN)

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Braydon Coburn (55) checks Chicago Blackhawks left wing Brandon Saad (20) into the boards. (Patrick Gorski/PHN)

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Ryan Callahan (24) watches the puck while sitting on the ice. (Patrick Gorski/PHN)

Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) trips and falls into the net. (Patrick Gorski/PHN)

Tampa Bay Lightning center Alex Killorn (17) and Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Ryan Callahan (24) celebrate after scoring a goal. (Patrick Gorski/PHN)

Tampa Bay Lightning center Alex Killorn (17) and Chicago Blackhawks center Andrew Shaw (65) get tangled up next to Chicago Blackhawks center Marcus Kruger (16) and Tampa Bay Lightning center Valtteri Filppula (51). (Patrick Gorski/PHN)

A Blackhawks fan gives two thumbs down after the Lighting score. (Patrick Gorski/PHN)

A Blackhawks fan gives two thumbs down after the Lightning score. (Patrick Gorski/PHN)

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) protects the goal while Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) is on a brake away. (Patrick Gorski/PHN)