Advertisement

NHL-Lightning turn back Blackhawks to even Cup Final at 1-1

June 6 (Reuters) - Jason Garrison slapped in the game-winner in the third period as the Tampa Bay Lightning avoided another late collapse and beat visiting Chicago 4-3 to even the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday. The Lightning, who had given up two third period goals in a 2-1 loss on Wednesday, did not panic this time after the Blackhawks tied the score 3-3 in the third. Instead, Garrison capitalized on a power-play chance with 11:11 remaining on a shot that ricocheted off the skate of Chicago's Andrew Desjardins and fooled goaltender Corey Crawford. The best-of-seven series moves to Chicago for Game Three on Monday. The Blackhawks, who are seeking their third Stanley Cup title in six seasons, looked as though they would take a 2-0 series lead back home when they struck for two quick scores in the second period to erase a 1-0 deficit. Andrew Shaw netted the first to tie the score before 20-year-old Teuvo Teravainen got his second goal of the series to put the visitors ahead 2-1. Tampa Bay fought back in an action-packed second period with Nikita Kucherov and Tyler Johnson each beating Crawford to grab a 3-2 advantage for the Lightning. After the teams exchanged goals in the third to make it 4-3, the championship tested Blackhawks put the pressure on for the equaliser, but this time Tampa Bay killed off a power play and survived an extra Chicago attacker in the final minutes. Backup Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy finished off the victory as he saved all five shots he faced after replacing starter Ben Bishop late in the third. (Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles, editing by Gene Cherry)