Lightning learn early on that Blackhawks never quit
TAMPA - They did exactly what they wanted to the Blackhawks for two-plus periods, but that's the lone bright side the Tampa Bay Lightning must take away from their 2-1 loss in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night.
Before the Hawks' third line taking the game over in the second half of the third period, producing two goals, the Lightning appeared headed for a big shutout win on their home ice at Amalie Arena.
Ben Bishop, their space-eating 6-foot-7 goalie, played well behind a suffocating defensive effort. Tampa's forwards occupied the middle third of the ice with little resistance in front of him. It was all set up perfectly, until the Hawks decided to ruin the script with goals just 1:58 apart.
"You can't take anything for granted against a team like that," said Lightning forward Victor Hedman, who was on the ice for the game-deciding goal scored by Antoine Vermette with 4:34 left to play. "You can't give them the room and space we did for 15 minutes in the third period."
Had Tampa's 1-0 lead stood, it would've been Bishop's fourth shutout of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and third in the past six games. Instead, it was a lesson learned about playing the Blackhawks - a team prone to create late-game thrill rides.
"We just sat back too much (in the third) and got away from our game a little bit, not putting pressure on them and doing all the right things like we did for 40 minutes," Hedman said. "So, lesson learned."
Based on some responses by Lightning players during media day on Tuesday, there were some who wondered if Tampa's collection of youngsters might be a little star struck by the Hawks once the puck was dropped.
They weren't and it paid off early on a goal by Alex Killorn 4:31 into the game. There were no dazed looks or wide eyes on the faces of Lightning players, only determination and excitement. If they're going to stay in this series, however, they need to find a way to keep that effort for the entire game.
The Blackhawks are not only loaded with talent and experience, but they don't give up on games - another lesson learned.
"For most of the game, we saw we can hang and we can be better," Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said. "You've got to go through these situations to learn from them. It comes down to the small details, and it comes down to a bounce. And this is what we have to expect."