Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop will face off with Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard between the pipes tonight in Game 1 of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Tampa Bay Lightning has been on one heck of a rollercoaster ride this season. Thankfully, the ride didn’t quite end when the 2015-16 regular season came to a screeching halt. The Tampa Bay Lightning are one of the eight teams in the Eastern Conference to have solidified their place in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Tampa Bay Lightning even went as far as to secure home-ice advantage in the first round.
Well, the moment is finally upon us. Tonight, the Tampa Bay Lightning charge into the Amalie Arena for the first time since setting off on their season-ending four-game road trip to take on Henrik Zetterberg and the Detroit Red Wings in Game One of the Quarterfinal Round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
As anyone who has ever had the privilege of watching the greatest game in all of sports we refer to as hockey, you know the last line of defense between the opponent and the back of your net is the goaltender. This is one of the many reasons having solid goaltending serves as a key component to a successful team. This is why the Tampa Bay Lightning are so happy to have someone like goaltender Ben Bishop to guard the pipes.
As these two teams make their way down to the tunnel to meet face-to-face in the center of the ice, the battle between the pipes has already been set in stone. Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop will face off against Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard between the pipes tonight at the Amalie Arena.
Ben Bishop has had a pretty stellar season thus far. For the third year in a row, Bishop has started in 60+ games during the regular season, essentially cementing himself as the Tampa Bay Lightning’s number one goalie, or as Tampa Bay Lightning Head Coach Jon Cooper likes to look at it, number one-A.
In the 61 games Bishop played this season, he was able to maintain a record of 35-21-4 along with a Goals Against Average of 2.06 and a Save Percentage of .926. Ben Bishop is a clear candidate for the Vezina Trophy this season. At the close of the 2015-16 regular season, Bishop led the league in Goals Against Average.
The six-foot seven-inch tall Lightning netminder also came in second in the league in Save Percentage, third in the league in shutouts, and fourth in the league in wins. We’d say that’s a pretty solid standing heading into the postseason.
Unfortunately, the same thing can’t exactly be said about the netminder on the other side of the ice. Goaltending has been one of the biggest struggles the Detroit Red Wings have experienced this season. At no point and time was there ever a clear definition who their number one goaltender was. Goaltender Petr Mrazek would get hot for a stretch then suddenly turn cold as ice as netminder Jimmy Howard heated up.
Detroit Red Wings Head Coach Jeff Blashill has announced it will be Jimmy Howard between the pipes for the Red Wings tonight. In the 37 games Howard has played this season, he has maintained a 14-14-5 record along with a Goals Against Average of 2.80 and a Save Percentage of .906.
As you can see, when you look at things in black and white, there is a rather large disparity between Ben Bishop’s numbers and those of Jimmy Howard. While goaltending seems to be the Achilles Heel of the Red Wings this season, the playoffs are a whole different animal. This is where history is made and destinies are fulfilled. In other words, if you don’t leave everything out on the ice, you have failed yourself and your team.
Next: Lightning vs. Red Wings: How Do These 2 Teams Match Up?
In just a few short hours, hockey fans around the world will be able to sit back and witness the majesty of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Those of us here in the Bolts Nation will bring the Thunder for the Tampa Bay Lightning as they charge into the Amalie Arena in the hopes of making a repeat appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals. If you can’t make it to the game tonight, here’s a look at all the info you need to stay on top if things.