2015 STANLEY CUP FINAL POST-GAME NOTES - GAME 2 CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS 3 at TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 4 - JUNE 6, 2015 Our Coverage Sponsored by Martin's Tavern of Georgetown Est. 1933
Established in 1933, Martin's Tavern is one of Washington DC’s most historic family-owned enterprises. For 80 years, Martin’s Tavern has been a renowned fixture in the mid-Atlantic and a must-visit establishment in historic Georgetown. In the late 1890's, William S. Martin traveled from Galway, Ireland to America. Forty years later, he and his son, William G. Martin, the current Billy's grandfather, opened Martin’s Tavern on the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and N Street NW which is run today by our friend, William A. Martin Jr. You can call him Billy! From sitting Presidents and media icons, to city residents and worldly travelers, Martin’s Tavern is a welcoming home to the many who have long embraced its warm atmosphere. Its quintessentially classic American fare has delighted discriminating palates for decades from the Oakwood Atlantic Smoked Salmon to the Filet Mignon to whatever your little heart desires from the convincing menu. Every President from Truman to George W. Bush has happily dined at Martin's Tavern, and you can see the delicious culinary choices preferred by each in our review: Martin's Tavern is Highly Recommended by Whom You Know:
The President’s favorite booths, The Proposal Booth of Jack and Jackie Kennedy, Mickey Mantle in The Dugout Room, George W. Bush and family at Table 12 are just a few of the iconic stories. Fourth generation owner Billy Martin, Jr. continues the tradition of Washington’s oldest family owned restaurant and Georgetown landmark.
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LIGHTNING GOALTENDER VASILEVSKIY COLLECTS VICTORY IN RELIEF
Lightning rookie goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy played 9:13 in relief of starter Ben Bishop, stopping all five shots he faced in a pair of stints during the third period (from 7:17 to 8:49 and from 12:19 to 20:00) to pick up the win. Vasilevskiy is credited as the game-winning goaltender for having been on the ice when Lightning defenseman Jason Garrison tallied the game-winning goal at 8:49 of the final frame.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Vasilevskiy became the first goaltender to post a Stanley Cup Final victory in a relief role since Pittsburgh's Frank Pietrangelo made 15 saves in 40 minutes to lead the Penguins to a 6-4 win over the Minnesota North Stars in Game 5 in 1991 (5/23/91).
Selected by the Lightning in the first round, 19th overall, of the 2012 NHL Draft, the 20-year-old native of Tyumen, Russia entered Game 2 of the Final having made two relief appearances during the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs -- 10:07 of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final against the New York Rangers on May 26 (7-3 L) and 34:52 in Game 4 of the Second Round against Montreal on May 7 (6-2 L).
Vasilevskiy made 16 regular-season appearances, posting a 7-5-1 record, 2.36 goals-against average, .918 save percentage and one shutout.
Elias adds that Vasilevskiy, who also earned his first career playoff victory (3 GP), became the first goaltender to win his first career playoff game in relief in the Stanley Cup Final since April 7, 1928, when Lester Patrick – the coach of the Rangers – came in to backstop the team to a 2-1 overtime victory in Game 2 against the Montreal Maroons at Montreal.
The last goaltender to earn his first career playoff win in the Stanley Cup Final – as a starter – was Jussi Markkanen, who did so with the Oilers on June 10, 2006 (Game 3 vs. CAR: 24 saves in 2-1 win).
JOHNSON SETS LIGHTNING FRANCHISE RECORD WITH 13TH PLAYOFF GOAL
Tampa Bay forward Tyler Johnson scored his 13th goal of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at 13:58 of the second period, setting a franchise record for most goals in one playoff year. Johnson had been tied with Ruslan Fedotenko and current Blackhawks forward Brad Richards, who both tallied 12 goals for the Lightning during their run to the Stanley Cup in 2004.
'TRIPLETS' EXCEL ON TRIPLE CROWN SATURDAY
After being kept off the scoresheet in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Lightning's "Triplets" line of Tyler Johnson, Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat combined for three points in Game 2. Kucherov tallied 1-1--2, while Johnson scored once.
Johnson (13-9—22), Kucherov (10-11—21) and Palat (7-8—15) have combined for exactly half of the Lightning goals during the playoffs (30 of 60). Combined with Steven Stamkos (7-10—17) and Alex Killorn (8-9—17), the five have contributed three-quarters of the team's 60 goals this postseason (45 of 60, 75%).
LIGHTNING POST LATEST STANLEY CUP FINAL RALLY
Tonight's game was the sixth of the past eight Stanley Cup Final games that featured the winning team overcoming a deficit at any point in the contest:
Last Eight Stanley Cup Final Games, Dating to 2013
2015: Game 2 – CHI 3 at TBL 4 (TBL trailed 2-1 in 2nd period)
2015: Game 1 – CHI 2 at TBL 1 (CHI trailed 1-0 in 3rd period)
2014: Game 5 – NYR 2 at LAK 3 (2OT) (LAK trailed 2-1 in 3rd period)
2014: Game 4 – LAK 1 at NYR 2*
2014: Game 3 – LAK 3 at NYR 0*
2014: Game 2 – NYR 4 at LAK 5 (2OT) (LAK trailed 4-2 in 3rd period)
2014: Game 1 – NYR 2 at LAK 3 (OT) (LAK trailed 2-0 in 1st period)
2013: Game 6 – CHI 3 at BOS 2 (CHI trailed 2-1 in 3rd period)
* Winning team did not trail.
TOEWS TALLIES 100TH CAREER PLAYOFF POINT
Blackhawks forward Jonathan Toews recorded the 100th playoff point of his NHL career (38-62—100 in 113 GP) by earning an assist on the goal by Brent Seabrook that tied the game 3-3 at 3:38 of the third period. Toews is the 92nd player in League history and 14th active skater to reach the milestone. Four of the 14 active NHLers with at least 100 playoff points play for the Blackhawks -- Toews, Marian Hossa (49-92—141), Patrick Kane (47-64—111) and Brad Richards (35-66—101).
Toews, who has spent his entire career with the Blackhawks, became the sixth player in franchise history to reach the 100-point milestone in the postseason. The others: Stan Mikita (155), Denis Savard (131), Bobby Hull (116), Kane (111) and Steve Larmer (107).
SEABROOK SCORES, SETS FRANCHISE RECORDS
Chicago's Brent Seabrook scored his seventh goal to establish a franchise record for goals by a defenseman in one playoff year. He previously shared the record with Chris Chelios, who scored six in 1992.
Seabrook, who has spent his entire career with the Blackhawks, also equaled a franchise record for career playoff goals by a defenseman (19). Bob Murray and Doug Wilson are the others to achieve that feat with Chicago.
PLAYOFF MILESTONE FOR QUENNEVILLE
Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final marked the 200th playoff game behind the bench for Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville (112-88). Only two other head coaches in NHL history have reached the milestone: Scotty Bowman (353) and Al Arbour (209). Quenneville also ranks third behind Bowman (223) and Arbour (123) for the most playoff wins by a head coach in NHL history.
QUICK HITS
* Teams winning Game 2 have gone on to hoist the Stanley Cup 74.7% of the time since the Final went to the best-of-seven format in 1939 (56-of-75 series), including nine of the past 12 occasions.
* The Lightning improved to 4-0 in Game 2s during the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, outscoring opponents 21-8 in those contests. The Blackhawks fell to 2-2.
* Seven of the past nine games between the Lightning and Blackhawks have been decided by one goal dating to March 9, 2011 (CHI: 2-3-4, TBL: 7-1-1), including Game 2.
* In 2004, the Lightning’s lone other appearance in the Final, the club dropped Game 1 vs. Calgary (4-1 L) before bouncing back with a win in Game 2 (4-1 W). Tampa Bay ultimately won the series in seven games.
* The teams split the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final for just the second time in the past 10 series (2006 through 2015). In 2013, the Blackhawks won Game 1 (in 3OT) and the Bruins won Game 2 (in OT) – Chicago ultimately won the series in six games.
* More than half of the games in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs (52 of 85, 61.2%) have been tied or within one goal entering the final five minutes of regulation, including Game 2.
* More than one-third of the games this postseason have featured a comeback win (31 of 85, 36.5%), including Game 2.
* The Lightning improved to 9-1 in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs when leading after two periods. Tampa Bay had suffered its first playoff loss in such a scenario in Game 1 of the Final.
* The Lightning improved to 10-1 when scoring the first goal during the playoffs, also having suffered their first playoff loss under such a scenario in Game 1 of the Final.
* The Lightning improved to 8-1 following a loss in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
* Four Lightning players tallied multiple points in tonight's victory -- defensemen Jason Garrison (1-1—-2) and Victor Hedman (0-2—2) and forwards Nikita Kucherov (1-1—2) and Ryan Callahan (0-2—2).
* Garrison tallied his first career playoff game-winning goal (27 GP). Three of his four regular-season goals in 2014-15 were game-winners.
