USA TODAY Sports-Dennis Wierzbicki
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning – Game 4
Game time, TV: Wednesday, June 10, 2015 – 8:00 PM ET on NBCSN
Series Results:
Game 1: Blackhawks 2 Lightning 1 (Chicago Leads Series 1-0)
Game 2: Lightning 4 Blackhawks 3 (Series Tied 1-1)
Game 3: Lightning 3 Blackhawks 2 (Tampa Bay Leads Series 2-1)
Games 1 and 2 of the NHL’s Stanley Cup Finals between the Blackhawks and Lightning were as close and exciting of games as the league and its fans could have asked for. With the series knotted at one game apiece, Game 3 followed the script as we were treated to yet another thriller.
Just like in the first two games of the series, the Lightning drew first blood. Ryan Callahan entered the zone on what looked like a harmless rush and absolutely drilled a slapshot past Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford.
Other than that goal, Chicago dominated the opening period, outshooting Tampa Bay 19-7. Brad Richards tied the game on the power play with a slapshot from the blue line that went off Ben Bishop’s outstretched glove and into the net.
In the second period, neither team managed to put the puck in the back of the net, resulting in just the second scoreless period of the series. Tampa Bay controlled much of the play, but failed to capitalize on a 5-on-3 power play.
The Blackhawks took a 2-1 lead at the 4:14 mark of the 3rd period when Marian Hossa fed Brandon Saad in the slot and the 22-year-old beat Bishop high to the glove side.
Just fourteen seconds later, the Lightning responded and equalized the score once more. Andrej Palat silenced the still-raucous crowd by jamming a loose puck past Crawford and setting the stage for what would be a thrilling final ten minutes of the period.
It started to look like we would have our first overtime of the series as the period wound down. Then, with just over three minutes to play, the Lightning executed a perfect breakout off of a face-off win in the defensive zone. Callahan fed Victor Hedman, the best player in the series so far, who streaked up the middle of the of the ice, leading a 3-on-2 break.
Rather than shoot, Hedman took the puck down the left wing and swung the puck to the front of the net. Seemingly out of nowhere, Cedric Paquette redirected the pass into the back of the net and past a helpless Crawford.
Bishop and the Lightning held on in the final minutes, thanks in large part to some outstanding shot blocking by the forward group.
The Blackhawks played well in Game 3, but once again, it just wasn’t enough. Obviously, Game 4 is huge for Joel Quenneville’s team. Falling behind three games to one with two more games to play in Tampa Bay would be an extremely daunting task.
To even the series, the Blackhawks need their superstars to play like superstars. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have failed to score in each of the first three games of the series, which is simply unacceptable.
I’m thinking there’s no way Toews and Kane are shutout for a fourth-straight game. We’ll have yet another one goal game, but the Blackhawks will find a way to knot the series back up.
Prediction: Blackhawks 3 Lightning 2 (Overtime)
Seth Lassen is a writer for RantSports. ‘Like’ him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter @Seth_Lassen.
