The Tampa Bay Lightning were able to muster just enough from an ailing Ben Bishop to pull out a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
While Bishop proved to be a puzzle the Blackhawks simply failed to answer, it was actually another Lightning who was the hero in the match. He is no other than Cedric Pacquette who scored the marginal goal after receiving a perfect pass from Victor Hedman at the 16:49 mark.
Chicago actually outshot Tampa Bay 38-32 and at the rate things were going, many fans on hand at the United Center were already bracing for overtime.
However, Paquette took the opportunity, allowing the Lightning to take a 2-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Final.
It was a heartbreaking loss for the Blackhawks who found themselves up 2-1 with 4:14 left in the third period courtesy of Brandon Saad.
That lead was however short-lived after Tampa Bay’s Ondrej Palat knotted the count only 13 seconds after.
Bishop was visibly willing himself to play, lacking the lateral movement. Regardless of the obvious state he is in, Bishop was able to keep himself afloat for all of 60 minutes. Such drew praises from forward teammate Tyler Johnson.
“He’s a competitor,” said Tampa forward Tyler Johnson. “He’s got all the confidence in the world from us. He never lets us down.”
Tampa Bay started the match aggressively taking the match’s first four shots and eventually breaking the ice with Ryan Callahan’s goal. From there though, it was all Blackhawks taking 22 of their next 19 shots.
Brad Richards knotted the count with 5:38 left in the first before the Saad and Paquette exchanges.
As far as the real state of Bishop is concerned, such has been kept secret until now. Bishop’s sudden exit in Game 2 is still a mystery and despite various attempts of media to get to the bottom of it, such efforts proved to be futile.
Bishop said he "felt the same pretty much the whole game." When asked bluntly what was wrong with him, his answer: "I'm not going to get into that" in a report from the USA Today.
Bishop was still not at a 100 percent and it showed late in the second half of Game 3. He received a hit from Saad and lay face-down on the ice after that. Trainer attended to Bishop and Saad would alter on be whistled for goal interference
It remains to be seen if Bishop will be a whole lot better in Game 4.
Game 4 of the Stanley Cup will be played at the United Center once more this Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.
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