TAMPA, Fla. – This was just plain bizarre. The Tampa Bay Lightning tried to go total rope a dope – against the Chicago Blackhawks, of all teams – for an entire third period Wednesday night. It’s Game One of the Stanley Cup final and you’re sitting back trying to protect a 1-0 lead?
That’s playing not to lose. At this point, you play to win. The Blackhawks have proven that over and over.
Let the Blackhawks stay close and they find a way. It happened again Wednesday in a 2-1 win over Tampa Bay that, as openers go, has to rate as an absolute crusher for the Lightning.