Game 3 for the Tampa Bay Lightning was not going to be easy. Down in a 2-0 hole, they had to try to claw their way out of it in one of the most intimidating buildings in the NHL, the Bell Centre.
The setting alone is enough to give any player the yips, but the Lightning kept plugging away, tying the game and then apparently scoring the go-ahead goal in the second period. Unfortunately, the official signaled no goal due to goaltender interference, and since this is not a reviewable play, the call on the ice stood.
Judge for yourself if this should’ve counted:
Shortly after that, Steven Stamkos got kneed in the head while he was on the ice by Alexei Emelin.
He left for the remainder of the second, but returned for the third period. By that time, the damage was done.
Tampa Bay now gets to figure out some way to crawl out of a 3-0 series hole without goaltender Ben Bishop.
