Games
Detroit Red Wings 3 - Tampa Bay Lightning 2
The game started a bit slow, with Tampa holding the advantage in shot attempts. Pavel Datsyuk would break the tie midway though the period, as he tipped a Kyle Qunicey point shot past Ben Bishop. Tampa Bay tied the game five minutes later while on the penalty kill. Brian Boyle caused a turnover, gained the puck, and deked out Mrazek. Late in the first, Anton Stralman received a penalty for goaltender interference, putting the Red Wings on the powerplay. Detroit wouldn't capitalize on the man advantage until seconds in to the second period. Datsyuk's shot form the slot hit Tomas Jurco on its way into the net. Tampa started taking control minutes into the second, throwing everything at the net. Mrazek stood tall though, saving everything that found him. About six minutes into the third, Detroit extended their lead. Luke Glendening scored on a play similar to Boyle's earlier in the game. He caused a turnover while shorthanded, and while he didn't go directly at the net, he did spin into the slot and released a backhand shot that beat Bishop five hole. Tampa Bay got one back minutes later, as Nikita Nesterov's shot from the high slot beat Mrazek blocker side. The Lightning kept pressuring for the tying goal, but could not find a way to beat Mrazek for a third time. Game 1 was won by Detroit, who take an early series lead.
Detroit Red Wings 1 - Tampa Bay Lightning 5
Things would get heated early in the game, as a post whistle hit by Alex Killorn lead to a scrum. The results of the scrum was a powerplay for Tampa Bay. About thirty second into the man advantage, Nesterov rung a shot off the post. It was quickly recovered by Johnson, who wasted no time putting it over Mrazek's shoulder and into the net. The Lightning extended their lead in the second. A broken play lead to the puck bouncing right to Killorn near the net. While he whiffed on his first shot attempt, he did manage to poke it past Mrazek's pad, giving the Lightning a 2-0 lead. Tampa made it 3-0 with about five minutes remaining in the period. Valtteri Filppula found Andrej Sustr with a backdoor pass, who then beat Mrazek. Johnson added his second of the game late in the period, as he beat Mrazek on a breakaway. Howard would replace Mrazek to start the third period. Detroit broke Bishop's shutout in the third. Kyle Quincey's point shot bounced off a Lightning defender and Tomas Tatar before trickling past Bishop. Tampa Bay added one more later in the period, thanks to a powerplay opportunity. Filppula's initial shot was stopped by Howard, but the rebound bounced right back to him, and he made good use of the second chance. Tampa Bay won Game 2 to tie the series 1-1.
Tampa Bay Lightning 0 - Detroit Red Wings 3
Mrazek was back in net for the Red Wings after getting pulled last game. It took a little bit, but Detroit was first on the board. Just under nine minutes into the first, Datsyuk would tip Tatar's point shot past Bishop. While both teams had chances, it wasn't until the third period when another goal was scored. Riley Shehan received a pass while near the crease, and slid a backhand shot past Bishop to increase Detroit's lead. Glendening iced the game with an empty net goal. Mrazek bounced back from last game, stopping 22 shots in the shutout victory. Detroit's win once again put them up in the series.
Tampa Bay Lightning 3 - Detroit Red Wings 2 (OT)
It looked to be another low-scoring game, as both teams could not find the back of the net in the first period (despite Tampa Bay having a few good chances). Detroit was once again first to find the back of the net. Gustav Nyquist finished off a tic-tac-toe play, tapping the puck past Bishop's stick and into the net. Joakim Andersson added another goal late in the period, but it was really Bishop who scored it. Andersson's shot was stopped by Bishop's glove, but then bounced in the air. The puck was subsequently batted by Bishop's stick, hit the crossbar, and trickled into the back of the net. It would get a bit heated in the third, as a hit by Glendening on Johnson ignited a scrum. Johnson would get the last laugh though, he skated in and beat Mrazek just as the 4-on-4 expired to pull Tampa Bay to within a goal. Just over a minute later, Johnson found Ondrej Palat in the slot, who scored to tie the game. The game needed overtime, where the first shot was also the last one. A 2-on-1 saw Hedman feed Johnson, who put it into a wide open net (Mrazek was way out of position). Tampa Bay won Game 4, tying the series 2-2.
Detroit Red Wings 4 - Tampa Bay Lightning 0
It wasn't until a powerplay opportunity late in the first when Detroit struck. The puck was moved along the outside, eventually going to Sheahan, who one-timed the puck past Bishop. The Red Wings added to their lead in the second. Glendening's shot was stopped by Bishop, but the puck trickled at the top of the crease. Drew Miller was able to get his stick on it, knocking it into the net to make it a 2-0 game. Tampa Bay had a couple of chances in the third, but every time Mrazek was there to make the stop. Later in the period, Datsyuk's shot from above the faceoff circles beat Bishop, making it 3-0 Detroit. Danny DeKeyser capped off the scoring by shooting from his own goal line into Tampa Bay's empty net. Mrazek stopped 28 shots in his second shutout of the series. Detroit's win push them ahead 3-2 in the series.
Tampa Bay Lightning 5 - Detroit Red Wings 2
Facing elimination, it did not take long for Tampa Bay to score first. Nikita Kucherov's pass beat two Red Wing defenders and found Johnson, who then skated in and beat Mrazek. Tampa struck again midway though the period, as Jason Garrison received a pass from Stamkos and snapped it past Mrazek. It looked like the Lightning would extend its lead early in the second, as Boyle deked out Mrazek and had an open net. Boyle's shot would not find net though, as Mrazek had his stick in excellent position to deny Boyle the goal. Stamkos had a chance a minute later, but the puck didn't settle, and a sprawling Mrazek made the save. Midway though the period, Johnson once again sloved Johnson, as his second goal of the game made it 3-0 Lightning. The Red Wings responded minutes later on the powerplay. Tater passed to Nicklas Kronwall, who passed it back to Tatar, who released a quick shot that beat Bishop. Early in the third period, Tater struck again. A spinning effort around the crease saw Tatar beat Bishop five hole, pulling the Red Wings to within a goal. That was as close as Detroit would be though, as Bishop would not give up a tying goal. The Lightning struck twice late in the period. First, Killorn roofed a backhand shot over Mrazek's shoulder. Cedric Paquette finished it off with an empty net goal. Tampa Bay won Game 6, staving off elimination and pushing the series to a Game 7.
Detroit Red Wings 0 -Tampa Bay Lightning 2
Detroit went into the game missing their top defenseman, as Kronwall was suspended for a hit on Kucherov in the previous game. It did not stop them from putting on the pressure early though. Ben Bishop would stand tall though, as he stopped everything coming his way. Both goalies did well in turning aside shots, as the game remain scoreless until the third period. Braydon Coburn broke the deadlock about four minutes into the period, as his one-timer beat a sliding Mrazek. Detroit tried for a tying goal, but could not find it. Anton Stralman's clearance bounced off the glass and slid into the empty net, capping the game. Bishop was stellar, stopping 31 shots in the shutout. Tampa Bay won Game 7, moving on to the second round and eliminating Detroit.
Three Thoughts on the Series
- If the Red Wings won and moved on, is the headline "Do You Believe in Mrazek-cles?"
- It is kind of amazing that Stamkos was goalless in the series.
- I can see how Kronwall's hit is suspendable, as he did launch higher than usual and hit Kucherov's head with his elbow/forearm.
What a save by Mrazek.
Highlight of the Series
As a goalie, I've had plenty of bad bounces. That being said, I've never had one as bad as Bishop on this goal.
No comments:
Post a Comment