Game 5
STAMFORD, Conn. – June 13, 2015 – NBC continued its exclusive coverage of its 10th consecutive Stanley Cup Final tonight with Game 5 featuring the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning, as the Blackhawks defeated the Lightning by a score of 2-1 to take a 3-2 lead and move within one win of the Stanley Cup. Chicago will look to win its third Stanley Cup in six seasons with a Game 6 victory on Monday night at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, with pre-game coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
For the first time since 1951 (Montreal vs. Toronto), all five games of the Stanley Cup Final have been decided by one goal, and no team has held a two-goal lead at any point 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 5 from Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. This marks the ninth consecutive year that Emrick, Olczyk and McGuire have combined to call the Stanley Cup Final for NBC Sports Group.
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 in Thunder Alley outside of Amalie Arena. Coverage shifted inside the arena with host Liam McHugh, who was joined by analysts Mike Milbury and Keith Jones.
Tonight’s pre-game coverage on NBCSN also featured an interview with former Tampa Bay Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk, who led the Lightning to their only Stanley Cup Final victory in 2004, as well as veteran college basketball analyst and Lightning fan Dick Vitale.
NHL Live on NBCSN (6:30-8 p.m. ET)
Carter on impact of Vasilevskiy or Bishop in goal: “It doesn’t really matter whether it’s Bishop or Vasilevskiy in net. It’s not going to make a difference how they play or how they start this game.”
Carter on Brandon Saad: “The Hawks really need to thank their lucky stars that Brandon Saad has been in the lineup. With Patrick Kane going really cold, Saad has picked up the pace…he puts his head down and he’s been like a bull in a china shop.”
Roenick on Saad: “There’s no question in my mind that Brandon Saad is one of the most underrated players in the NHL.”
Boucher on starting goaltender: “My gut tells me that Ben Bishop will be the starting goaltender tonight…two full days can mean a ton...you have to give a guy credit for getting through the way he did.”
Roenick on Lightning forward Ryan Callahan: “He’s a gamer. He’s a gamer from the word ‘go.’ It doesn’t matter how big you are and how strong you are. Ryan Callahan is going to be in your face, doing everything he can for his teammates.”
Vitale on Doc Emrick: “I’m in awe of your play-by-play guy. Mike Emrick is absolutely super. He’s unbelievable. I’ve got to get an autograph book so I can get his autograph.”
Vitale to Roenick: “I’m amazed by guys like you. Your power, your quickness…I really mean this, I looked up some of your numbers, and I can’t believe that you’re not wearing a Hall of Fame ring.”
Milbury on Bishop starting: “I don’t think it’s risky. I think he’s well enough…at this time of the year, if you’re a competitor, you’ve earned this chance to be between the pipes.”
Milbury on Seabrook: “He may not have a letter on his sweater, but there’s no question about the leadership he brings to the Hawks.”
Jones on the Lightning: “This Tampa Bay Lightning team has put some fear into the Chicago Blackhawks.”
Game 5 on NBC (8 p.m. ET)
Pre-Game
Olczyk importance of Game 5: “There’s a realization inside those locker rooms that you’re only two wins away from being a Stanley Cup champion.”
First Period
Olczyk on Sharp goal, 1-0 Blackhawks: “The lack of communication…Victor Hedman and Ben Bishop going for the same puck. Hedman heels it, and it goes right between the legs of Ben Bishop and Patrick Sharp puts it into the wide open net.”
Emrick on frantic pace of first period: “What chaos! Somebody call time!”
First Intermission
Jones on the Blackhawks: “They were faster. Their pressure was outstanding. They took a page out of the Lightning’s previous four games.”
Milbury on miscommunication between Hedman and Bishop on Chicago goal: “When you go out to handle the puck, somebody’s got to be talking to let them know where they’re going.”
Second Period
McGuire on Filppula goal, 1-1: “Great job by Tampa keeping the play alive smart read by Garrison…and Filppula is just going to find a way with the rolling puck.”
Olczyk on Filppula goal, 1-1: “No chance for Corey Crawford.”
Second Intermission
Jones on Lightning’s Brown-Callahan-Paquette Line: “The Lightning’s third line has been perfect tonight.”
Third Period
McGuire on Crawford, who stopped Brendan Morrow prior to Vermette goal: “You’ve got to give credit where credit is due. It hasn’t been an easy playoffs for Corey Crawford, but he has battled.”
Post-Game
Olczyk on the Blackhawks: “The best player on the ice was Niklas Hjalmarsson. An official game-high seven blocked shots…and let’s not forget, the Blackhawks pretty much played with four defensemen this entire game.
Milbury on the Blackhawks: “We learned that Chicago has woken up here…this was by far their best game. Every other game, I would have given Tampa Bay the benefit of the doubt. Tonight, the Hawks deserved to win the hockey game.”
--NBC SPORTS GROUP--
