The Chicago Blackhawks, led by a third period goal from Antoine Vermette, defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game 5 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals, giving themselves a 3-2 series lead and moving them to within one victory of their third Stanley Cup championship in the last six seasons.
The Lightning saw the return of starting netminder Ben Bishop as the series shifted back to Tampa and it immediately proved a crucial factor, though not in the manner Lightning faithful likely would have hoped. Bishop and Bolts defenseman Victor Hedman collided in their own zone in the first period, losing the puck in the process. Chicago's Patrick Sharp took advantage of the gaffe, depositing the game's first goal in Tampa Bay's empty net.
While the Lightning saw the return of one important piece in Bishop, they watched another head to the dressing room as forward Nikita Kucherov, who had comprised one-third of the vaunted "Triplets" line for Tampa with Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat, left the game in the second after a collision with Hawks goaltender Corey Crawford.
Tampa forward Valtteri Filppula put the Lightning on the board in the second, tying up the game on a wrister about halfway through the period. Jason Garrison and Anton Stralman got the helpers.
Lightning captain Steven Stamkos had struggled to make his mark on the finals prior to Game 5, but came out roaring on Saturday night. He looked every part the All World player he is, something Tampa sorely needed, but it wasn't enough to overcome a veteran Chicago squad.
Trade deadline acquisition Vermette made Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman look very intelligent when he scored on a wrist shot two minutes into the final frame.
Stamkos and Tampa Bay poured it on as their desperation mounted in the third, but it wasn't enough to solve Crawford.
