In an earlier post, we reported that Tampa Bay had the upper hand in the 2015 Stanley Cup final with a 2-1 lead in the series. However, Chicago has turned the tide and are now in a 3-2 lead. If they win the next game at home in United Center, they are the Stanley Cup Champions 2015.
Two straight 2-1 wins for Chicago
In game four, in United Center, Chicago, the home team got the best start, Jonathan Toews scoring 1-0 on a beautiful assist from Marian Hossa in front of the net. Tampa could tie the game 1-1, before Brandon Saad in Chicago was determined to score, stepping up in front of Tampa’s net, scoring 2-1 with a great individual effort. Going for the equalizer, Steven Stamkos got two great chances to score in the end of the game, but missed an almost open net.
In game five, Ben Bishop was back in Tampa’s net after missing game four due to an injury. In the beginning of the game, Corey Crawford in Chicago’s net almost gave away the go ahead goal to Tampa, giving Kucherov the puck. However, the situation ended with Kucherov being injured after colliding with Crawford and going head-first into the goalpost. He did not return in the game. In the other end, another collision took place: Tampa’s defender Victor Hedman and Ben Bishop went into each other, leaving the net open, Patrick Sharp could score 1-0 for the Blackhawks. Bishop should probably have stayed in goal. Tampa tied the game in the middle of the second period. However, in the third, Chicago scored the decisive 2-1-goal after a rebound on a breakaway. Tampa ended the game with a too-many-players on the ice penalty, having seven players on the ice with the open net.
To keep the series alive, Tampa now has to go to Chicago and get the win, then a game seven at home awaits.
Meanwhile, in the AHL, Manchester Monarchs won the Calder Cup. Monarchs are the affiliate team of Los Angeles Kings.
