Tampa: The Chicago Blackhawks scored two goals in less than two minutes in the third period on Wednesday to stun the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in game one of the NHL Stanley Cup Final.
Trailing 1-0, the Blackhawks pulled level with 6:32 left in the third thanks to Teuvo Teravainen’s shot past Lightning goalie Ben Bishop.
“It’s pretty amazing,” said 20-year-old rookie Teravainen, who took a pass from Duncan Keith and fired a shot inside the near post.
“I just tried to shoot high and sometimes good things happen,” Teravainen said. “There was a lot of traffic in front of the net and maybe the goalie didn’t see it.”
With 4:34 remaining, a Lightning turnover set the stage for the game-winner by centre Antoine Vermette.
Teravainen knocked the puck loose from J.T. Brown at the right circle and Vermette wristed a shot into the net to give the visitors the lead.
“I think that was a great illustration on that goal with the way we try to play, try to establish our speed and moving our feet, especially in their end,” Vermette said.
“I think on that play, it was great work. Teuvo kept it working hard, created a turnover, and we got the puck in the slot.”
Bishop, who stopped 19 shots, departed in favor of an extra attacker with 1:22 to play, but Tampa Bay couldn’t force overtime.
“I thought we had chances to put them away - we didn’t put them away,” said Lightning coach Jon Cooper. “I thought we hung in there. Sometimes you’ve got to get more than one.”
Goaltender Corey Crawford made 22 saves for the Blackhawks, who are vying for a third Stanley Cup crown in six seasons.
Game two of the best-of-seven series is on Saturday in Tampa.
The two teams, meeting for the first time in the playoffs, were both coming off game seven victories in their conference finals, Chicago over the Anaheim Ducks and Tampa Bay against the New York Rangers.
The Lightning seized an early lead when Alex Killorn skillfully redirected a spinning puck past Crawford just 4:31 into the contest.
The backhanded goal energized the already buzzing crowd of more than 19,200 at Amalie Arena, and the Lightning maintained their advantage until Teravainen’s strike.
Keith said the outcome showed Chicago’s character.
“We stuck with it,” the Blackhawks defenseman said. “They had a good first period and we came on toward the end of the game.”
Added winger Patrick Sharp: “We certainly believe in ourselves in our locker room, and we’re never out of any game despite the score or how it looks out there.
“Two big goals at the end to get the win.”
