Games
Tampa Bay Lightning 2 - Montreal Canadiens 1 (2OT)
The first period saw Montreal get the better chances. Unfortunately for the Canadiens, whenever they beat Bishop the post was there to stop the puck. The second was similar, as it was the Canadiens getting most of the chances. Montreal's best chance in the second come late in the period, as a 2-on-1 saw Tomas Plekanec get back the puck and fire it. Bishop was there with the glove though, robbing Plekanec and keeping the game scoreless. The Lightning struck early in the third. Matthew Carle's point shot was redirected by Tyler Johnson and into the net. The Canadiens tied the game later in the period. Max Pacioretty's shot should have been a routine goal save by Bishop, but the puck bounced off his glove and behind him, right into the net. Both teams were tied at a goal a piece, meaning overtime was needed. It looked to be over minutes into the extra frame, as Nikita Kucherov's breakaway attempt was stopped, but the puck manage to trickle over the line when Price slid back into the net. It would be called off though, as it was argued Kucherov pushed Price into the net. That was the only time the puck was in the net in the first overtime, as another extra period was needed to determine a winner. The second overtime period saw redemption for Kucherov. Just over two minutes in, he received a pass in the slot and snapped it past Price, giving Lightning the win. Tampa Bay won the first game, putting them up 1-0 in the series.
Tampa Bay Lightning 6 - Montreal Canadiens 2
The Canadiens looked to bounce back from losing Game 1, and it looked good early for them. Seven minutes into the first, Jeff Petry's point shot found its way through Bishop and into the net. A penalty late in the first ended up costing Montreal the lead. Vatteri Filppula's beat Price glove side, as Tampa Bay tied the game. The game stayed tied unto eight minutes into the second. Jason Garrison hit Steven Stamkos with a long pass. Stamkos squeezed by two Canadien defenders and deked out Price, sliding the puck into the net to both register his first goal of the postseason and to put the Lightning ahead. A couple of penalties later in the period saw the game start slipping away from Montreal. The first was Tom Gilbert taking a cross checking penalty while 4-on-4, making it 4-on-3 for Tampa Bay. The Lightning performed an amazing passing display on the powerplay, as it ended with Kucherov one-timing it into the net. Petry was the next Canadien to be penalized, as he was sent off for interference late in the period. Victor Hedman scored on the powerplay, as that goal made it 4-1 for Tampa Bay. The Lightning's powerplay struck once more in the third, as Kucherov redirected Johnson's pass over Price's blocker and into the net. Montreal did get one back midway through the period, as Gilbert's point shot slid by Bishop. Tampa Bay added one more, as J.T. Brown tipped the puck up and over Price. While the scoring stopped, the action didn't. Brandon Prust continued his feud with Bishop, as the two got into a shoving match. Braydon Coburn stepped in and fought Prust. After the refs sorted everything out, Prust earned a two (tripping Bishop), five (fighting Coburn), ten, and a game misconduct for his antics. The game ended shortly after, as Tampa Bay won 6-2 to extend their series lead.
Montreal Canadiens 1 - Tampa Bay Lightning 2
Heads would be cooled as the series shifted to Tampa Bay. Both teams had chances early in the first, but could not find the back of the net. It wasn't until the 12 minute mark when the first goal happened. Killorn received a pass from Stamkos and snapped it past Price, putting the Lightning up 1-0. The second period was mostly Montreal's, as they had a couple of chances. They were unsuccessful in finding the tying goal though, as both Bishop and the post stood in their way. Later in the period, Prust skated into Bishop's arm when he as down. Bishop stayed down for a bit, but recovered and continued to stay in net. It wasn't until midway though the third period when Montreal got in the board. Brendan Gallagher jammed home a loose puck to tie the game at 1-1. The game looked to be heading to overtime, but in the end it was not going that far. With seconds left in the third, as bunch of little errors cost the Canadiens. Hedman drove wide with the puck and ended up hitting an open Johnson near the net. Johnson tapped the puck underneath Price's pad, as it sealed the game. Tampa Bay won their third straight of the series, pushing Montreal closer to elimination.
Montreal Canadiens 6 - Tampa Bay Lightning 2
There was little time to breath after Game 3, as Game 4 happened less than 24 hours later. It did not take long for the Canadiens to score, as Markov roofed one past a sliding Bishop just under three minutes into the game. Montreal made it 2-0 six minutes later, as Pacioretty's breakaway attempt ended with him beating Bishop blocker side. It was almost 3-0 late in the period, as Lars Eller forced a turnover went in on Bishop. Eller's shot ended up hitting Bishop in the chest, as the score remained 2-0. The Canadiens did make it 3-0 five minutes into the second, as David Desharnias' blast hit Bishop's glove and dropped into the net. That was the end of Bishop, as Andrei Vasilevskiy came in to replace him. It didn't take long for the Canadiens to beat the Russian goaltender. First was Petry on the powerplay, as he blasted one by Vasilevskiy. 15 seconds later it was Brendan Gallagher's turn, as he blasted one past Vasilevskiy as well. Minutes later on a powerplay chance, Tampa Bay finally found a way to beat Price. Ondrej Palat's slap pass found Kucherov, who proceeded to shoot the puck into the net. The Lightning had another powerplay opportunity late in the period, but capitalized on it when it shifted into the third period. Johnson's pass hit a streaking Palat, who tapped it into an open net. Montreal would answer back minutes later. Eller's shot would be stopped by Vasilevskiy, but Prust got enough of the rebound on his stick for it to bounce into the net. Montreal won the game 6-2, giving them a win in the series.
Tampa Bay Lightning 1 - Montreal Canadiens 2
The Canadiens looked to avoid elimination for another game, and it looked good for them in the first. Midway through the opening frame, Devante Smith-Pelly beat Bishop with a high shot. Montreal got a few more chances in the period, but Bishop stopped them. Both teams had their chances in the second to score, but neither could find the back of the net. Tampa Bay had a prime opportunity to tie the game seven minutes into the third. Filppula received a pass from Stamkos and fired it on net. The shot stayed out, as Price slid over and got enough of his glove on it to tip the puck aside. The Lightning did manage to score minutes later, as Stamkos buried a rebound to tie the game. The tie remained until four minutes left. Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau's one-timer from the high slot beat Bishop, putting the Canadiens back in the lead. The Lightning pressed to tie the game again, but to no avail. Montreal won Game 5, continuing the series for another game.
Montreal Canadiens 1 - Tampa Bay Lightning 4
The series went back to Tampa Bay for Game 6. The home team would give the crowd something to cheer about late in the first, as Kucherov tipped Palat's shot past Price to put the Lightning up 1-0. They extended their lead five minutes into the second, as Stamkos snapped a shot over Price's shoulder and into the net. Montreal had a chance later in the period to get on the board, but Parenteau's shot hit the post. A penalty late in the period by Smith-Pelly was costly for the Canadiens. A give-and-go by Palat and Kucherov ended with Palat beating Price blocker side. Both teams had chances to score in the first half of the third, but Price and Bishop saved everything that came at them. Montreal would find the back of the net late in the period, as a turnover led to Pacioretty beating a sprawling Bishop. That was all the Canadiens could muster. Kucherov scored an empty net goal to seal the game. The Game 6 win was Tampa Bay's fourth of the series, as they eliminate Montreal.
Three Thoughts on the Series
- Maybe Prust should have just kept quiet about the refs.
- Good to see that Ryan Callahan only missed one game due to an emergency appendectomy.
- Once more for old times sake: Ding.
Stupid Bishop and his stupid horseshoe *bitterly walks away muttering*.
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| (Picture via Erik Erlendsson) |
Highlight of the Series
This puck movement by the Lightning is un-fricken-real.
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