It seemed as if the Tampa Bay Lightning was going to ease through Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals last night. Scoring within the first five minutes of the game, the Lightning were giving the home fans what they paid for. Their speed and agility were leaving the Chicago Blackhawks behind, until the visiting team finally woke up in the third period.
The Blackhawks poured in two quick goals in the third to overturn the Lightning lead and win the series opener.
“We had a slow start…we need to be ready from the get-go and be moving our feet against this team,” defenseman Duncan Keith said in his post-game interview
The Blackhawks really got their feet humming, firing shots left and right to no avail until 13:28 left in the third when youngster Teuvo Teravainen’s goal whizzed pass Lightning goalie Ben Bishop, tying the game 1-1.
The Blackhawks were really fired up now. So hot, in fact, that no more than two minutes later Antoine Vermette followed suit and made it a 2-1 Blackhawks lead.
“We’re never out of any game despite the score or how it looks out there,” Patrick Sharp said post-game.
Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals is scheduled for Saturday.