Lightning's Game 2 victory not without strangeness, lingering questions
TAMPA, Fla. -- When a strange third period finally ended, teammates offered hugs and helmet taps to reserve goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, the whole moment a mix of relief, exhilaration and lingering mystery for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
There was Vasilevskiy, just 20 years old, standing tall after making five saves in his 9:13 of playing time, all in the third period after starter Ben Bishop skated off the ice, then back on, then off again because of an unknown reason.
There were the spoils of a much-needed 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at Amalie Arena, with the opening notes of AC/DC's "For Those About to Rock" blaring over the loudspeakers, the result creating a tie in the Stanley Cup Final at one game apiece before the series shifts to Chicago for Game 3 on Monday.
There was the collective shrug from players in Tampa Bay's dressing room afterward when asked about Bishop's inability to finish the game, center Steven Stamkos' summing up the situation well by saying, "You heard the PA announcer going back and forth announcing who was in net. So we don't know what's up."
What's up?
The good for the Lightning: They avoided the miserable prospect of falling behind 2-0 in the series, which has become all but a death sentence for home teams that have suffered that fate in a Stanley Cup Final. Entering Saturday, 10 of the 12 road teams that have claimed the first two games in this round have gone on to win the title.
The bad: It's uncertain how serious Bishop's situation stands at this time, but the fact that he wasn't made available to speak to reporters or that coach Jon Cooper refused to address the situation means the goaltender's condition is likely more than something to shrug off. (TVA Sports speculated that Bishop sustained a knee injury.) There's a chance the Lightning could be forced to trust Vasilevskiy in net for Game 3 and perhaps longer. That reality would be a wild card for Tampa Bay.
Vasilevskiy showed flashes in the regular season, when he went 7-5-1 with a 2.36 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. Before Saturday, he played sparingly in this postseason with four goals allowed in two games.
Yet the young player represents the Lightning's best hope in net for a distant tomorrow, not today. Tampa Bay's greatest chance to win the Cup rests with a healthy-and-active Bishop. At this point, with few answers, uncertainty surrounds that possibility.
"I know we have two unbelievably capable goaltenders," Cooper said. "When Bish had to leave, there wasn't an ounce of stress on anybody on our bench, including myself. I mean, the kid proved it when he went in. He was great."
Vasilevskiy deserves credit for how he handled himself in the closing minutes. His best moment came when the Lightning survived Chicago's two-minute power play 13:08 into the third period, after defenseman Andrej Sustr was whistled for delaying the game by knocking the puck over the glass.
But the Lightning should want to avoid walking that tightrope often. Bishop has a tendency to be inconsistent, but Tampa Bay would never have reached this stage without him. He has proven his value time and time again.
He was big in Game 7 against the Detroit Red Wings. He was big in Game 6 against the Montreal Canadiens. He was big in Game 7 against the New York Rangers.
The hole without him here will be large if he's out long.
Saturday, though, the Lightning survived. They won even after some initial nerves from their young reserve goaltender, who was placed in a beyond-his-years moment. He proved capable.
"Yes, a little bit," Vasilevskiy said of being nervous. "But after the first couple shots, I felt better. ... I kept my head in the game."
Added Lightning winger Ryan Callahan: "It's impressive, there's no question. To come in a situation like that with that much time left in a one-goal game, I don't know if I could have done that at his age."
All the stakes, all the pressure, all the buzzing near his net, and Vasilevskiy handled this major test. He protected a slight lead in a third period that featured goals from both sides, and with the development, he preserved Tampa Bay's chance to win this series.
Still, the faster Bishop can return, the better.
"It's always tough to have a goalie come in cold like that," Lightning center Tyler Johnson said. "But we have a lot of confidence in Vasi. He's been great all season for us. We see him in practice. He's a competitor. He works hard. We have the confidence when he gets in. He made some big saves."
He did. But even in their victory, a big question hangs over the Lightning.
Only Bishop's return can dash it.
You can follow Andrew Astleford on Twitter @aastleford or email him at aastleford@gmail.com.
