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"I didn't mind the way we played," Quenneville said. "They got a goalie win out of the game. If we play like that we'll find a way to get 2 points. Sometimes you get a goalie win on the other side and you don't get a point, so I guess that was a positive. Certainly we did what we wanted to do tonight."

The win for Tampa Bay came after an opening-night loss in Boston.

"It's the first one of the season, so it's always big," Bishop said. "And then it's against the defending Stanley Cup champions, which is also big. A comeback win in this building says a lot about this team."

After going the first period without a shot, the Lightning got goals from Martin St. Louis and Teddy Purcell on a power play less than two minutes apart midway through the third period to force overtime.

"We weren't happy with the way we were playing, and we had 20 minutes to fix it and show as a team what we could do," Bishop said. "The first two periods wasn't really acceptable. We did a good job in the third."

The Hawks finished with a 39-16 advantage in shots.

"It was a near perfect game for us," Hawks goalie Corey Crawford said. "We put a lot of pucks on net and had a lot of chances, but their guy played unbelievable."

The Hawks took a 2-0 lead in the first 10 minutes of the second period on goals by Patrick Kane and Brandon Saad.

Kane got his second of the season 59 seconds into the period when he flipped a Bryan Bickell rebound over Bishop after Niklas Hjalmarsson took the puck hard to the net.

Saad's goal came on a power play at 9:14 and also was his second of the year. He will never have an easier one.

He had an open net to shoot at after Bishop came out to play Nick Leddy's dump-in that hit the glass funny and landed in the crease. Saad had the easy tap-in before Bishop could recover.

It was Bishop's only gaffe of the game.

"There's a reason they're the Stanley Cup champs, and they showed us for most of the game why they're the best team in the league," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "We needed Ben Bishop to stand tall if we had any chance of coming back, and he did.

"I was looking for the police when we left the locker room because I thought we'd get arrested for stealing."

Saad didn't think the Hawks got enough traffic to the net around Bishop.

"He played well, but we've got to get more guys to the net," Saad said. "There are a lot of great goaltenders in this league, so we just got to stick with it and keep battling. They just didn't go in for us tonight."

Steven Stamkos assisted on both Tampa Bay goals.

"They're not always pretty, especially against this team in this rink; they're going to take 2 points every night," Stamkos said. "We hung around and our goalie played very well tonight."

Bishop stopped Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa in the shootout while Valtteri Filppula scored Tampa's lone shootout goal.

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 10.06.2013

719703 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks' Sharp knows all about fitness

By Tim Sassone

It was a few years ago that Patrick Sharp decided to get serious about becoming fit, and the results have been noticeable.

Sharp won the annual fitness award at Blackhawks training camp and has been one of the best players on the ice through the preseason and opener against Washington. He credits Hawks strength and conditioning coach Paul Goodman with getting him started.

"I probably started when I was 25 or 26," Sharp said. "I got real serious about it, and it was kind of when the fitness craze came into the league. Now you see players training at 13 or 14 years old with personal trainers. That's definitely something I wasn't doing.

"When Paul Goodman came in we sat down and laid out a plan. He's on top of that kind of stuff. There's no question I improve every summer physically because of Paulie. I never had these high-performance trainers and supplements and protein shakes and all that stuff."

Sharp is on a mission to make the Canadian Olympic team, which would cap a pretty good year for him. The Hawks won their second Stanley Cup in June, and the Sharps have a second child due any day now.

"It's a pretty good time in my life, I can't argue that," Sharp said. "Playing for the Blackhawks has been pretty special. The way they take care of us and bring part of such a good team with a chance to win every year is more than I could ask for. I'm very lucky.

"I feel I'm in my prime and have a lot of years left."

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville loves what he has seen from Sharp.

"He's skating as good as I've ever seen him skate," Quenneville said. "Every single time he hits the ice it seems he's at a different pace this year. We expect him to be producing at a real nice rate here."

Respecting Stamkos:

From one goal scorer to another, Marian Hossa has an appreciation for what Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos does.

"I think he works for his space," Hossa said. "It's not just the puck comes to him and he's got an unbelievable release. When you look at his game you have to be aware of where he is."

Lineup changes:

It turned out that Ben Smith wasn't the only lineup change for the Hawks on Saturday.

While Smith played right wing in the third line, Mike Kostka was inserted on defense in place of Michal Rozsival.

"He can play offensively and defensively," Joel Quenneville said. "He's involved, and he's got speed on the back end to join the attack. This gives him a chance to get in the lineup early in the season."

The only Hawks Quenneville hasn't used yet are defenseman Sheldon Brookbank and goalie Nikolai Khabibulin.

View from Tampa:

When Lightning coach Jon Cooper got a look at his 2013-14 schedule and saw the first two games were at Boston and Chicago, he knew immediately it would be a challenge.

"When the schedule came out and we saw we played the two Stanley Cup finalists back to back, we said this will set the bar of where we're at," Cooper said before Saturday's game.

"Tonight we're playing the team that's won two of the last four Stanley Cups and many consider to be the best team in the league the last four or five years, so that's not much to go up against."

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 10.06.2013

719704 Chicago Blackhawks

Hawks fall to Lightning in shootout 3-2

By Associated Press

Valtteri Filppula scored in the shootout and the Tampa Bay Lightning rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night.

Ben Bishop made 37 saves in his first start this season for Tampa Bay, then denied each of Chicago's three shooters in the tiebreaker. Filppula beat Corey Crawford into the right side of the net in the first round.

Tampa Bay looked listless before Martin St. Louis and Teddy Purcell scored midway through the third period, tying it at 2. It was the first victory of the season for the Lightning, who opened with a 3-1 loss at Boston.

Patrick Kane and Brandon Saad scored in the second for Chicago, which outshot Tampa Bay 39-16 in the first game between the teams since the Lightning's 5-4 overtime victory on Nov. 4, 2011. Jonathan Toews, Kane and Marian Hossa each were unable to solve Bishop in the shootout.

The Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks were coming off a 6-4 victory over Washington in their season opener Tuesday. They set an NHL record by recording at least one point in each of their first 24 games a year ago, but they wasted an opportunity to earn two points against the Lightning.

Tampa Bay failed to register a shot on goal before Nate Thompson was stopped by Corey Crawford 1:22 into the second. It had only six shots at the end of the period, compared to 25 for the Blackhawks.

The scoreless first was the first time an NHL team had failed to register a shot on goal in a period since Edmonton on March 3 at Minnesota, according to STATS. It was the third such period for Tampa Bay in franchise history, and only the second time Chicago had pulled off the feat, including the first period of a scoreless tie against Detroit on Dec. 4, 1946.

The Blackhawks grabbed the lead when Kane jumped on a loose puck on the right side of the net and punched it in just 59 seconds into the second. Saad then made the most of a big break midway through the period.

With Tampa Bay center Alex Killorn in the penalty box for hooking, Blackhawks defenseman Nick Leddy tried to dump the puck in behind the Lightning net. Bishop went back to get it, but it took a weird bounce off the boards and slid toward the front of the goal.

Saad came in from the left side and knocked it in before Bishop could get into position, making it 2-0 at 9:14.

The two-goal advantage looked as if it would be more than enough before Tampa Bay suddenly woke up midway through the third.

First, St. Louis beat Crawford with a backhander on a rebound with 9:52 remaining. Then, Purcell sent a wrist shot over Crawford's right shoulder for a tying power-play goal just 1:43 after Tampa Bay's first score.

After beginning with the Stanley Cup finalists from a year ago, Tampa Bay is at Buffalo on Tuesday night before beginning its home schedule on Thursday against the Panthers.

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 10.06.2013

719705 Chicago Blackhawks

Lightning take late strike at Blackhawks

October 5, 2013, 10:30 pm

Nina Falcone

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper had his team's plan laid out heading into Saturday's matchup: shoot and shoot often.

But once the puck dropped inside the United Center, the visiting team had a difficult time executing that plan. The Blackhawks held Tampa Bay to no shots on goal throughout the entire duration of the first period; it took 21:22 of ice time before goaltender Corey Crawford was called on to make a save.

But once the Lightning began shooting — although it wasn't often — it was enough to earn them their fourth consecutive win over the defending Stanley Cup champions.

"Got a little outplayed there (in the first period)," forward Valtteri Filppula said following his team's 3-2 shootout victory. "But (goaltender Ben) Bishop played great and we were able to get back in the third and in the shootout. Good result, not the best game."

It was a result no one expected to see. There wasn't much excitement from the start, but even once it picked up, the momentum on the ice remained with the Blackhawks as Patrick Kane and Brandon Saad gave their team a 2-0 lead.

"(The Blackhawks) skated a lot better than us," Filppula continued. "We didn't get the puck, we were always a little bit behind. But I gotta give it to them, they're a really good team and they played really well. The first two periods they didn't give us much — even in the third they didn't give us much but we played better to get the necessary goals."

It was Martin St. Louis who gave the Lightning the momentum they were searching for as he scored the first of Tampa Bay's two goals in regulation.

"It was a huge goal," Filppula said. "We didn't have a whole lot of scoring chances today. (The Blackhawks) played really well defensively and it was tough for us. But got that one and we were only one behind, so we knew we had a chance to come back."

The Lightning did just that, despite only taking 14 shots in regulation. The Blackhawks, on the other hand, fired 37 at Bishop.

"We weathered the storm," Steven Stamkos said. "Obviously it wasn't the best period (in the first) but our goalie made some big saves and kept us in the game.

"That's the way this league goes, you just keep going and you get a chance, you get a break, you get a power play, a big power play goal, a goal off the face-off — we stayed in the game. They're not always pretty, especially at this rink against this team; you're gonna take two points every night."

Despite the difficult start, the Lightning were pleased with the product they put out following that first 20 minutes of play as they went on to record their first win of the season.

"That's all you can ask for is a chance to stay in the game, especially when you start like that," Stamkos said. "We were able to hang around and we got the win."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.06.2013

719706 Chicago Blackhawks

Crawford, Hawks fall to Lighting in shootout

October 5, 2013, 9:30 pm

Tracey Myers

For two-and-a-half periods, the Chicago Blackhawks defense was its usual stellar and stymieing self. But for two critical minutes, the Tampa Bay Lightning got the breaks – and goals – that were so elusive to them through the first 50 minutes.

Patrick Kane and Brandon Saad each scored their second goal in as many games, but the Lightning scored twice in the third and Valtteri Filppula had the shootout winner in a 3-2 decision over the Blackhawks . The Blackhawks have points in their first two games out of the gate, but they were a tad frustrated in leaving that extra point on the table.

But some nights you just have to tip your hat to the opposing goalie, and it’s arguable that’s the case for Saturday night. Getting a shot on Tampa Bay goaltender Ben Bishop was easy. Getting one past him, not so much. Bishop was masterful in stopping 37-of-39 through regulation and overtime, as well as all three Blackhawks shootout attempts.

Smith played against Bishop when the two were in college, and in the American League, and he knows how tough the 6-foot-7 goaltender can be.

“He’s done well and played a great game tonight,” Smith said. “Those big, long legs, a lot of pucks hit him.”

While Smith said the Blackhawks had a lull during the Lightning’s comeback, Coach Joel Quenneville didn’t quite agree.

“I didn’t mind the way we played. It’s one of those games where they had a goalie win out of the game,” Quenneville said. “We did what we wanted to do most of the night. When we play like that, we’ll find a way to get two points. Sometimes you get a goalie win on the other side and you don’t get a point, so that’s the positive we’ll take out of it. But we certainly did what we were looking to do tonight.”

Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said his team stole one in Chicago.

“Let’s call a spade a spade: there’s a reason they’re the Stanley Cup champs and they showed us for most of the game why they’re the best team in the league,” he said. “We needed Ben Bishop to stand tall if we had any chance of coming back and he did. We just hung around. You get one and then we were opportunistic on our power play and snuck out with a win. I was looking for the police when we left the locker room because I thought we’d get arrested for stealing.”

Steven Stamkos had two assists for the Lightning. Corey Crawford, who didn’t see a shot on goal until early in the second period, allowed two on 16 shots.

Indeed, the Blackhawks did a lot of things right, from dictating the tempo to firing at well on Bishop to blanking the Lightning on shots on goal in the first period. It was the first time since Dec. 4, 1946 (against Detroit) that the Blackhawks didn’t allow a shot on goal in a period.

On the other side, the Blackhawks were suffocating in their offensive attack. Kane cleaned up when the Blackhawks had traffic around Bishop 59 seconds into the second period for a 1-0 lead. Then Saad capitalized when Bishop went behind the net to play the puck, but the puck took a weird carom and slid in front of the net for, essentially, an empty-net power-play goal and a 2-0 lead.

But the Lightning, few shots and all, weren’t done. Not long after winning a faceoff, the Bolts broke through when Martin St. Louis tallied his first of the season. Then Teddy Purcell scored 31 seconds into a power play against a Blackhawks penalty kill that’s suddenly looking very vulnerable.

The Blackhawks did a lot of things right, indeed. The penalty kill didn’t show well in its one chance, but otherwise the Blackhawks were cultivating opportunities and controlling the pace. Still, the Blackhawks would’ve liked to collect that second point – if only they could’ve found that third goal.

“We had quite a bit of chances,” Saad said. “It was a tough loss, for sure. There are a lot of great goaltenders in the league, but we have to stick with it and keep battling. Unfortunately, it didn’t go in enough for us tonight.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.06.2013

719707 Chicago Blackhawks

Konroyd's keys against Lightning: Stay out of the box

October 5, 2013, 3:45 pm

Steve Konroyd

CSN Chicago Blackhawks pre/postgame analyst Steve Konroyd gives his three keys to a Blackhawks' victory in Saturday's game against the Lightning.

1. Stay out of the penalty box:

The Blackhawks took six minor penalties in their last game and it almost cost them. Washington was able to score on three of them, and it gave the Capitals a lot of confidence and momentum. A trademark of Joel Quenneville’s team since he’s been in Chicago is discipline. Yes, the Blackhawks had one of the best penalty killing units in the league last year, but they also took the third fewest penalties, having to kill off less than three penalties per game. Do not take needless penalties.

2. Watch out for the Stamkos–St. Louis Show

Steven Stamkos is an elite goal scorer in this league. Coming into this season he has scored 185 goals in the last four years, 33 more goals than any other player. And guess what? Martin St. Louis has assisted on almost half of them. They are especially dangerous on the power play, and the last time these two teams met in November of 2011, Stamkos had a hat trick for a Tampa Bay win.

3. Keep the Power Play Humming:

The power play went 1 for 4 against the Capitals on Tuesday night, and it gave the team some momentum when Brent Seabrook scored late in the 2nd period. That “shoot first” mentality instead of looking for the pretty play has to be on the top of the Hawks' minds. I’ve watched a lot of games so far in this young season, and the team that wins the special teams match usually wins the game.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.06.2013

719708 Chicago Blackhawks

Kostka set to make Blackhawks debut

October 5, 2013, 1:45 pm

Tracey Myers

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Mike Kostka got together with a few of his fellow former Norfolk Admirals teammates, now members of the Tampa Bay Lightning, on Friday.

It was a chance to remember the Admirals’ tremendous 2011-12 season, the one in which they rattled off 28 consecutive victories -- still a professional hockey record -- and capped it with a Calder Cup triumph over the Toronto Marlies. And, it was just a chance to get together for the Norfolk alums who have remained close friends.

“That team’s as close a team as I’ve ever been on, and Kostka was a big part of it,” Tampa center Tyler Johnson on Saturday afternoon. “We’ve kept in touch a lot. We’re family, and we’re always going to be.”

But family ties will take a backseat later tonight when Kostka, makes his debut in his new jersey when the Blackhawks host the Lightning at the United Center. For Kostka, getting into his first Blackhawks game is a treat, made that much sweeter in facing good friends and former teammates.

“I always like playing against old teammates. It’s a good time,” Kostka said after morning skate. “I don’t think I’ll ever be a part of something that incredible again, in terms of the record. We didn’t even know how it happened. You have different levels for goals and achievements, and I’m proud to make it (to the NHL). But you never forget what got you there, an experience like that, which really did help propel me forward.”

The Admirals went 55-18-3 that season en route to the title, and a good deal of those players have made it to the next level.

“We look back, nine guys are in the NHL from that team. That shows, if you win, teams are going to be looking for you,” said Lightning left wing Pierre-Cedric Labrie, who enjoyed the reunion with Kostka on Friday. “He’s an awesome dude, a really laid-back, funny guy. I have nothing bad to say about him.”

Kostka didn’t make the NHL with the Lightning. He signed a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs in July of 2012 and played 35 games for the Leafs last season. But there’ll always be Norfolk, the success the team had, the friendships built and the drive to make the NHL that season instilled in him.

“Maybe it didn’t work on the NHL level so there’s always a bit of a proving ground. That being said, I have nothing but good things to say about my time in that organization,” Kostka said. “But there’s always that part that drives you, and playing against guys you won a championship with, I’m excited.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.06.2013

719709 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks return to CSN to host lightning at 6:30

October 5, 2013, 9:45 am

Nina Falcone

After gutting out a thrilling 6-4 victory in their home opener, the Blackhawks are hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning. Catch all the action on Comcast SportsNet beginning at 6:30.

The banner is up and the first win is in the books.

The Blackhawks kicked off their season on Tuesday with a thrilling victory after conducting an emotional banner-raising ceremony to commemorate their Stanley Cup victory.

Now the Blackhawks will look to get another two points under their belt as they host the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Lightning were not off to as strong of a start as the Blackhawks were as they suffered a 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. For both Tampa Bay and the defending Stanley Cup champions, special teams will be important heading into tonight's game.

While the Blackhawks saw improvement on the power play Tuesday evening, their penalty kill suffered, allowing the Washington Capitals multiple power-play goals.

“Give them credit for their effectiveness on the power play and us maybe being too respectful,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “We could’ve been more aggressive on some of those situations.”

The Lightning were 0-for-5 on the power play in their season opener after recording just 12.5 percent success rate with the man-advantage in 2013.

Looking at the numbers, the Lightning don't appear as much of a threat to the Blackhawks. Tampa Bay earned just 40 points in the lockout-shortened season, causing them to finish just slightly ahead of the Florida Panthers who came in dead last in the Eastern Conference.

But tonight won't be a walk in the park for the Blackhawks, who have dropped their last three matchups against Tampa Bay. Both teams will be taking a close look at their special teams play as the Blackhawks aim for a second consecutive victory inside the United Center.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.06.2013

719710 Colorado Avalanche

Paul Stastny could be odd man out with Avalanche by season's end

By Adrian Dater

The Denver Post

Posted: 10/06/2013 12:01:00 AM MDT

It may work out that the Avalanche can keep three very good centers beyond this season in Paul Stastny, Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon. But most everyone believes one of them will have to be traded before too long, and odds are that player will be Stastny.

It may be an uncomfortable topic for everyone around the dressing room, but it is reality. There are only so many minutes to go around for a team's top forwards, and anyone out of the top six more often than not stays slotted in a utility role.

Right now, the Avs have a 22-year-old center in Duchene who just signed a five-year, $30 million contract extension, and an 18-year-old No. 1 draft pick in MacKinnon who could be a superstar. They have a fourth-line center, John Mitchell, who probably deserves to be moved up another level.

Stastny, 27, is in the last year of his contract, which pays him $6.6 million this year, and is a potential unrestricted free agent. If the Avs sign Stastny to a new contract, that means Duchene and MacKinnon probably play fewer minutes and maybe see some of their growth stunted. If Stastny re-signs, he knows he probably is destined for fewer minutes to accommodate the younger players, and his growth is stunted as well.