CHICAGO (AP) – One point. That is the combined total for Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Steven Stamkos through two games of the Stanley Cup Final.
The biggest stars for the Blackhawks and Lightning are looking to break out with the deadlocked series shifting to Chicago for Game 3 on Monday night.
Toews’ third-period assist in Chicago’s 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday night was the 100th career playoff point for the captain – and his first of the final.
Kane, who played alongside Toews for much of the first two games, failed to register a shot on goal in Game 2. Stamkos, the captain of the Lightning, is scoreless in his last four games.
The winner of the series very well could be the team that gets one of those scorers going.
”I mean, as an offensive guy, you want to be helping produce, especially at this time of year,” Kane said. ”But, you know, we said all along with our team, we don’t really care where the goals come from, as long as they’re coming from our team.”
While Toews, Kane and Stamkos have been shut down so far, the big question hanging over the Stanley Cup on Sunday was which goalie would be in net for Tampa Bay in Game 3. Even coach Jon Cooper said he wasn’t sure.
Ben Bishop left midway through the third period of Game 2. He returned for a brief stretch and then left for good. Andrei Vasilevskiy made five saves to help close out the series-tying win.
There has been no word from the Lightning on why Bishop departed. Cooper said he could be available for Game 3.
”You’ll have a better indication, I guess, tomorrow at the skate,” Cooper said. ”Although our morning skates are all optional anyway. Bish, notoriously he goes on sometimes during them and sometimes he doesn’t. I’m sure you’ll get a clue then tomorrow.”
The 6-foot-7 Bishop had a franchise-record 40 wins this season. He is 12-9 with a 2.20 goals-against average in the playoffs.
Vasilevskiy, who turns 21 in July, has made 19 appearances this year, counting the playoffs, but Cooper and the Lightning insist they are comfortable with him in goal.
”If Bish can’t go tomorrow, is that a blow to us? Sure it is,” Cooper said. ”But do we think the series is lost because Vasilevskiy is going in? Not a chance.”
Tampa Bay’s revolving door in goal and the free-wheeling pace of Game 2 made Kane’s blank scoresheet all the more surprising. It was only the second time that he failed to record a shot on goal in 112 career playoff games, according to STATS.
”It’s not a stat you like to see, for sure,” said Kane, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2013 for playoff MVP. ”At the same time going into the next game, I’m not going to go in saying, `I need to get a shot here or there.’ I just go out and try to make the right play and worry about the results from there.”
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Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap
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