FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 8th, 2015

2015 STANLEY CUP FINAL NOTES & QUOTES – TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING VS. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

Game 3

 

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 8, 2015 – NBC Sports Group continued its exclusive coverage of the Stanley Cup Final tonight with Game 3 between the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning on NBCSN, in which the Lightning defeated the Blackhawks by a score of 3-2 and gained a 2-1 lead in the series.

 

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 had the call of Game 3 tonight from the United Center in Chicago, Ill.

 

Coverage began at 6:30 p.m. ET with NHL Live led by host Dave Briggs, alongside analysts Jeremy Roenick, Anson Carter and Brian Boucher on-set outside of the United Center. Coverage shifted inside the arena at 7:15 p.m. ET with host Liam McHugh, who was joined by analysts Mike Milbury and Keith Jones, and NHL insider Bob McKenzie.

 

Tonight’s pre-game coverage also featured an interview with McHugh and top prospects for the 2015 NHL Draft (projected No. 1 and No. 2 overall) Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel. In addition, Briggs and Roenick interviewed six-time Stanley Cup Champion Mark Messier on-set outside of the United Center.

 

NHL Live on NBCSN (6:30-8 p.m. ET)

 

Anson Carter on Lightning goaltenders Ben Bishop and Andrei Vasilevskiy: “The guys are not worried. This team is 7-3 on the road. Whether Bishop is in the net or Vasilevskiy, it’s not going to make a difference.”

 

Jeremy Roenick on Patrick Kane: “Patrick Kane is one of the most electrifying players on the planet. There is only so much you can do to try and stop him. If you give him a little space, he is going to kill you.”

 

Brian Boucher on Andrei Vasilevskiy: “This guy is the goaltender of the future. He is going to be a great goaltender in this league.”

 

Click here for McHugh’s interview with McDavid and Eichel

 

Game 3 on NBC (8 p.m. ET)

First Period

 

Olczyk on the start of the game: “The quicker team right now is the visitors. The home team has no response right now as far as the quickness and pace of this game.”

 

 

First Intermission

 

Milbury on the Lightning’s defense: “Tampa is missing the aggressiveness they had when they started the game. A little pressure wouldn’t hurt, but they continued to stay soft until Chicago did their damage.”

 

Jones on Ben Bishop: “I’d be very concerned. I didn’t like the way he got up after the first goal. He didn’t look that confident leaving the ice for the dressing room.  Clearly he’s gutting it out.”

 

Second Period

 

Olczyk on Nikita Kucherov: “Outstanding period for Nikita Kucherov. Three shots, all in this period. When he has been on the ice, the puck has been finding him.”

 

Olczyk on Brandon Saad’s contact with Ben Bishop: “You have to try to make every possibly maneuver to avoid contact with the goaltender. Yes, he’s (Saad) being pushed, yes he is going in the blue paint, but the hands of Saad made contact with Bishop. If you try to avoid contact, and make contact, there is a good chance the officials will not call it. It’s a bang-bang play and I believe it’s the right call on the ice.”

 

Second Intermission

 

Jones on Ben Bishop: “He doesn’t look fine and yes his coach is gambling. And so far the gamble is paying off.”

 

Milbury on Corey Crawford: “This guys has been solid. He’s a Stanley Cup winning goaltender and he’s acting like it.”

 

 

Third Period

 

Olczyk on second goal by the Lightning: “What a response by the Lightning. Everyone in the building was still watching the replay of Chicago’s goal, and Tampa comes right back.”

 

McGuire on Victor Hedman: “He’s a major reason why Tampa Bay’s future is so bright.”

 

Emrick on the end of the game: “Ben Bishop stood tall, after apparently being shaken up earlier. Tampa Bay wins.”

 

Post-Game

 

Jones on the Lightning: “There is a lot to like about the way the Tampa Bay Lightning are playing. A perfect road game performance.”

 

Milbury on the Lightning: “They have been the better team, for the first three games, most of the time.”

 

Jones on the Blackhawks: “The story of this game for the Blackhawks will be missed opportunities.”

 

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–