FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 29th, 2015

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING ADVANCE TO STANLEY CUP FINAL – GAME 7 NOTES AND QUOTES

Lightning Defeat Rangers 2-0 in Game 7 to Advance to Stanley Cup Final for First Time Since 2004

“A perfect road game for the Tampa Bay Lightning.” – Keith Jones

“Big Ben delivers on one of the biggest stages in sports.” – Liam McHugh on Lightning Goaltender Ben Bishop

Western Conference Final Game 7 – Blackhawks-Ducks – Tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET on NBC

Stanley Cup Final Begins with Game 1 on Wednesday, June 3 on NBC – Lightning vs. Winner of Blackhawks-Ducks Game 7

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 29, 2015 – The Tampa Bay Lightning advanced to their first Stanley Cup Final since 2004 with tonight’s 2-0 Game 7 win in the Eastern Conference Final over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in New York. Alex Killorn scored the eventual game-winning goal early in the third period, while Ben Bishop made 22 saves to earn his second consecutive shutout at Madison Square Garden, as the Lightning became the first team to defeat the Rangers in a Game 7 in New York.

Three-time Emmy Award-winning play-by-play commentator and Sports Illustrated 2014 Media Person of the Year Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick, U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member and analyst Eddie Olczyk, and Emmy Award-winning Inside-the-Glass analyst Pierre McGuire called tonight’s Game 7 matchup. NBCSN’s NHL Live studio team featured host Liam McHugh, and analysts Mike Milbury, Keith Jones and Brian Boucher.

 

Following are quotes from tonight’s Game 7 coverage between the Lightning and Rangers:


PRE-GAME

Boucher on the goaltending matchup: “This is a great situation for Ben Bishop. He’s got nothing to lose. All of the pressure is on Lundqvist.”


FIRST PERIOD

Emrick on possible loss of Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh: “He’s only the captain, and he’s only a shut-down guy. Very important in an elimination game.”

McGuire on Lightning’s play in first period: “The Tampa Bay Lightning have been hustling and bustling to start this Game 7…they’ve been on their toes, while the Rangers have been on their heels.”


FIRST INTERMISSION

Jones on impact of potential McDonagh injury: “It’s about trying to win one for your captain that has done so much for your team. He clearly did not look like the Ryan McDonagh we’ve seen in the past.”


SECOND PERIOD

McGuire on goaltending duel: “If you’re Ben Bishop at the other end, you’re wondering. ‘How perfect do I have to be to beat this guy?’”


SECOND INTERMISSION

Milbury on Tampa Bay’s penalty kill: “They’ve made some adjustments. They’ve been much more aggressive attacking the puck…this is the kind of stuff that has made them a much tougher team to play against.”

Milbury on Lightning forward and former Ranger Ryan Callahan: “He has six shots on goal and he’s been involved in this game. It would be a great time to put him back with Steven Stamkos.”

Jones: “This has been a perfect road game for the Tampa Bay Lightning.”


THIRD PERIOD

McGuire on the Tampa Bay defense: “Tampa Bay’s putting their signature on team defense. They put on a clinic here in Game 5 and now in Game 7.”

McGuire on goal by Ondrej Palat to give Lightning 2-0 lead: “You knew at some point this line was going to step up.”


POST GAME

Emrick on Tampa Bay’s Game 7 win: “What a proud night in Tampa. And the road game that Jon Cooper talked about turned out to be a brilliant one.”

McHugh: “Big Ben delivers on one of the biggest stages in sports.”

Milbury on Rangers’ lack of offense: “It was sort of manic depressive out there. The Rangers get no goals, 22 shots…it kind of like was feast or famine for them. In the end, famine ruled the day.”

Milbury on Rangers: “They lost this game simply because their forwards couldn’t apply enough pressure. You didn’t see Nash tonight. You didn’t see Brassard…you hardly saw St. Louis. None of that offensive pressure that’s necessary. You can’t win by tie. You have to score a goal sooner or later, and tonight they didn’t show enough moxie until it was much too late.”

Jones: “The Lightning took a page out of what the Rangers like to do.”

Milbury: “Callahan might have been the best player on the ice…he seemed to will his team in the right direction.”

 

 

The Lightning will face the winner of tomorrow’s Western Conference Final Game 7 between the Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks, which will air in primetime at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Emrick, Olczyk and McGuire will have the call of tomorrow’s Game 7 matchup from Honda Center, while McHugh, Milbury, Jones and Boucher will provide handle studio coverage.

The Stanley Cup Final begins Wednesday, June 3 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, with the location of Game 1 dependent upon the result of tomorrow’s Blackhawks-Ducks Game 7 on NBC.


–NBC SPORTS GROUP–