“You want to protect the lead and we’ve been quite successful in doing so in past games. This time, we’re playing a highly skilled team and they’re a little bit too good to give that much room and that much puck possession. So, lesson learned.” – Lightning Defenseman, Anton Stalman
The Tampa Bay Lightning learned just how fast a lead can change in the Stanley Cup finals, especially against a team as experienced as the Chicago Blackhawks.
For the a majority of the game, the Lightning held on to a 1-0 lead off a goal scored by Alex Killorn in the first period of Game 1. Killhorn showed off his hand-eye-coordination by tipping in a floating puck with his backhand while spinning backwards.
“I was just trying to sort of hit it towards the net,” Killorn said. “Not something you practice, but lucky it went in.”
It gave the Lightning the advantage for two periods which should have been all they needed considering Tampa Bay was 41-0-2 in the regular season and post-season when leading after two.
However, Chicago’s pressure in the third period was almost too much for Tampa and the Blackhawks scored two quick late period goals to wrap up the game.
It wasn’t a game full of quality scoring chances and both teams played a a tight, defensive style while feeling the other one out. These two teams are very similar and each are looking to capitalize on the limited opportunities they will get in the games to come.
“I thought we had chances to put them away. We didn’t put them away,” said Tampa Bay coach, Jon Cooper. “Once you do that, to me, that was letting them hang around.”
Ryan Callahan had one of those opportunities in the third period when he raced down the ice on a breakaway but was stonewalled by goaltender Corey Crawford who finished the game with 22 saves.
Neither goalie was tested a whole lot, but both Crawford and Ben Bishop were sharp. The Blackhawks were able to sneak in their two goals by crowding the net and getting traffic in front of the 6‘7“ Bishop.
Rookie Teuvo Teravainen scored the first Chicago goal by firing a seeing-eye-puck that found its way passed Bishop through a screen.
Antoine Vermette scored the game winner off a giveaway by J.T. Miller right in the slot. Terevainen knocked the puck loose from Miller which found its way to Vermette who fired the loose puck in the upper corner to stun the Lightning fans and cripple a Tampa Bay team who seemed to be scrambling in the waning minutes of the game.
“There’s a fine line between respect and fear,” Lightning forward Brenden Morrow said. “You can respect them; you can’t fear them. It looked like in the third we were holding on and the fear of maybe what would be coming and what might happen.” (NHL.com)
The Blackhawks lead the series 1-0 and Tampa Bay desperately needs to win big at home before heading to Chicago for games 3 and 4.
Tampa’s defense-first approach might have to change if they want to compete with a Chicago team that picks up its intensity as the game goes on.
“It’s just one of those games where if you let a team hang around like that,” Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos said. “Especially with the skill that they have, you can’t afford to do that.”
Look for the Bolts to up the offense in Game 2 on Saturday at 7:15.
Photo Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Teuvo Teravainen #86 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates his third period goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
