The question at 7pm eastern time tonight was: It’s game five at the Oil Can, can the Lightning close the series or would the Wings of the Motor City be dragging Tampa Bay’s beloved blue clad skaters back to Detroit?
It ended up being a game that featured both teams playing well defensively all the way though and it looked to be the Red Wings, maybe running on desperation, was the team that had an extra step. The Red Wings would out-shoot the Lightning for the game 34-24, but 34 saves later Ben Bishop stole one, not for the road, but not to go on the road.
As the game started most of the play was in the middle of the ice as the teams although this being game five of the series, seemed to be sizing each other up.
The story of the night started early as Niklas Kronwall of Detroit got a breakaway less than two minutes into the first. Ben Bishop was able to make the save. Bishop was just getting started.
Bishop would get tested again when the Red Wings go on a 5-3 man advantage. The Lightning commit a too many men on the ice penalty to put the Wings on the power play and 46 seconds later Jason Garrison cross checked Justin Abdelkader to put the Wings on a two man advantage. The Lightning killed it off with keen precision getting the sellout crowd, most of them looking for a Lightning clinch, fully engaged.
The Lightning came close to scoring shortly after the kill but Detroit goalie, Petr Mrazek made the stop.
The Lightning get a power play chance at 2:53. Just four minutes into the second, Ben Bishop closes the five hole short-handed breakaway attempt by Riley Sheahan. Three Detroit breakways kept Bishop on task and on his toes.
The Red Wings, still looking like a team running on an extra step, were out shooting the Lightning 23-14 after two periods.
Both teams jostled the third period with Detroit continuing to pressure.
Valterri Fippula, often overlooked for the subtle things he does well, was certainly a big part of the whole series. Filppula continued the small things that lead to big wins in this game. One of the negatives of the Lightning coming into the series was maybe some inexperience, Filppula being the only player on the Lightning roster to win a cup. It was with the Red Wings in 2008.
Pure hustle by Ryan Callahan propels the Lightning into round two. Petr Mrazek mis-played the puck slightly giving the hustling Callahan time to make a steal and give Alex Killorn a door step pass Killorn would not miss on knocking past Mrazek. The Oil Can explodes with 1:43 left. Detroit pulls Mrazek with 1:13 and just to add drama Jason Garrison goes off for a tripping minor with 44 seconds left. The Lightning dig in and close out the series.
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