Ben Bishop and the Tampa Bay Lightning advance to the second round against the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup playoffs. They defeated the Detroit Red Wings 2-0 in a Game 7 nail-biting thriller.
Why separate Bishop from the rest of the team? Because without him the Red Wings would have destroyed the Lightning. He saved 31 shots on goal. The Lightning only managed 17 shots on goal.
The first period belonged to Detroit. They outshot the Lightning 14-7, but with the way the period went, it is amazing Tampa Bay registered that many shots. Yet, the Red Wings just could…not…get…past…Bishop.
Exclusive look at Lightning goalie Ben Bishop after his #Game7 shutout: pic.twitter.com/cnG6IYbrkB
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) April 30, 2015
Yup. Pretty much to the frustration of the Red Wings and their fans. The majority of the game was nothing but shot after shot against Bishop.
Usually in these types of games, it is the goalie who receives the most pressure that allows a goal. Not this time. Mrazek gave up a goal four minutes into the third period.
https://vine.co/v/e7qw5lYbJ59
It completely deflated the Red Wings. Zapped energy. No charge.
The fact that Anton Stralman scored an empty net goal from behind his own net is proof enough that the Red Wings had no life in them. The Lightning electrified with every shot and push. They played like they wanted it more.
HIGHLIGHT: Anton Stralman scores an empty-netter from behind his own goal line to seal Game 7 for his team. http://t.co/yfWacdagaj
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) April 30, 2015
Next up are the Montreal Canadiens, which will be harder. However, if Game 7 Ben Bishop shows up the only goals that will go through will be flukes. Montreal goalie Carey Price is the sure winner of the Vezina Trophy for best goalie and a top candidate for the Hart Trophy as MVP.
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