WATCH: Islanders chase Vezina finalist Ben Bishop early in Game 1
On the same night he was named one of the three finalists for the Vezina Trophy, given to the NHL's best goaltender, Tampa Bay Lightning netminder Ben Bishop didn't even last 30 minutes in Game 1. The big goalie, who was a rock for the Lightning in the first round, gave up four goals on the first 13 shots he faced against the New York Islanders in the second round's opening game.
Bishop wasn't getting a ton of help from his defense as he was hung out to dry on at least two of the first three goals the Lightning gave up. However, the first goal came off of a bad-angle shot from Travis Hamonic that just ended up leaking through Bishop.
The lead didn't last long. @NYIslanders get one right back. #TBLvsNYI #StanleyCuphttps://t.co/WvdL0mAHVF
— #StanleyCup Playoffs (@NHL) April 27, 2016
Even with traffic in front, that's a tough one to give up, especially since the Lightning had gotten an early lead in the game.
Bishop then gave up a pair of goals to Shane Prince, who found the soft spot in the defense each time during the first period. Finally, on the last shot he faced, Bishop was beaten clean on a wrister from the red-hot John Tavares just before the halfway point of the second period.
You can always count on Johnny. Tavares has his League-leading 6th of the #StanleyCup Playoffs. #TBLvsNYIhttps://t.co/ic6up9Zi7w
— #StanleyCup Playoffs (@NHL) April 28, 2016
Regardless of the performance in front of him, which was indeed poor, Bishop never really had it in this one. After the Tavares goal beat Bishop with a little too much ease, head coach Jon Cooper gave the veteran netminder the hook. He was replaced by backup Andrei Vasilevskiy who was making his fifth career appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
In Tampa's first-round win over the Detroit Red Wings, Bishop allowed just eight goals over the entire series. He had a .950 save percentage and one shutout as well. It was a really stunning turn for Bishop, especially on the day where he received high honors for his regular-season performance.
