Game Two: Vasilevskiy Takes Over

Game Two of this year's Stanley Cup Final was a milestone: it was the final NHL game for the NBC Sports Network, known to us puckheads as NBCSN. This year's Stanley Cup Final will mark the end of NBC's relationship with the NHL, which began in the 2005-06 season--the first season back from a season crippling lockout. The coverage included games on what was then known as the Outdoor Life Network (OLN), which later changed its name to Versus until converting to the NBC Sports Network on January 2, 2012. The cable channel aired games on Mondays and Tuesdays, and later added Wednesdays and Sundays as part of their schedule beginning in 2012. NBCSN also aired Stanley Cup Playoff games along with NBC's other networks, and always shared coverage of the Stanley Cup Final with NBC, who will air the rest of the Final from this point on.

Regarding the Final, the Tampa Bay Lightning took Game One by a score of 5-1, a truly dominant win for the defending champions. This game was different, as the Montréal Canadiens played a stronger first period in Game Two than they did in Game One. The period was also marred by penalties, the last one being a high sticking double minor committed by Ryan McDonagh, however, the period ended without a goal, and the second frame began with the Lightning killing off the rest of the Habs Power Play.

Minutes after the kill, Anthony Cirelli broke the ice 6:40 into the second period; Tyler Johnson and Jan Rutta assisted, and the Bolts led 1-0. However, Tampa Bay's penalty in the middle of the frame led to a Canadiens Power Play that cashed in; Nick Suzuki unassisted, sixth of the playoffs, and the game is tied. The Bolts did return to the Power Play later, but another trip on the Canadiens was missed during that PP. However, with literally one second left in the 2nd, Blake Coleman falls, dives, shoots and scores--an amazing goal to end the period. After 40 minutes, the Lightning led 2-1.

Unlike Game One, Game Two's third period was quiet; Habs were knocking at the door, but Andrei Vasilevskiy didn't let them in. Even so, the Habs stayed in it, but in the final five minutes of regulation, Ondrej Palat manages to get a Habs turnover, and shoots it past Carey Price. Lightning lead 3-1 and it ends up being the final score.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are two wins away from repeating as Stanley Cup Champions, and in this game, it was all Vasilevskiy. He didn't win the Vezina this year, but he maintained his focus on the main prize, stopping 42 of Montréal's 43 shots. For the Canadiens, this is a first in this year's playoffs. They had never been on the bad end of a 2-0 series lead this year. It was 1-1 after two against the Maple Leafs, 2-0 for the Habs against the Jets, and 1-1 against the Golden Knights. The Canadiens have their backs against the wall for the first time since falling behind three games to one against the Leafs, and if they want to keep any hope alive, they have to win both of their home games coming up.

And again, the so-called doubters are coming out, saying that the Canadiens never belonged in the first place. Say the Lightning do win this series. If so, do not go around saying, "See? I told you this team wasn't any good. I told you they had no business getting here." They won three rounds to get here. They came back from 3-1 down in Round 1. They beat a strong Golden Knights team to get to this point after sweeping the Jets. They belong. Win or lose, the Canadiens belong.

Game Three is Friday in Montréal.

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