09-07-2019, 03:01 AM
NEW YORK -- The Tampa Bay Lightning got a key piece back in their lineup and he proved to be the No. 1 star in a win over the New York Rangers. No, top forward Steven Stamkos isnt ready to play yet, but Ben Bishop was on top of his game after a brief absence. Bishop made 33 saves in his return from injury and the Lightning cooled off the Rangers 2-1 on Tuesday night. "We played solidly, and I felt no rust," Bishop said. "This was big for us coming into this building and playing well. Its a fun place to play. You have to be excited playing at Madison Square Garden." Bishop was back in the net for the first time since he sprained his right wrist in the first period at Edmonton on Jan. 5. He missed three games before dressing as the backup to Anders Lindback on Monday at Columbus. He didnt play in the Lightnings 3-2 loss. "He was probably our best player," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "When youre going on the road and trying to win a hockey game, it all starts with your goaltending. He gave us a chance to win." Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov supplied all the offence, scoring goals 9 seconds apart early in the second period for Tampa Bay, 5-1-1 in the second half of back-to-back games. Hedman got the Lightning even with a power-play goal, and Kucherov gave them the lead for good on a breakaway. Tampa Bay went 5-3 in a stretch in which it played seven of eight on the road. "Its been tough, and I thought weve done a pretty good job," Bishop said. Brad Richards scored for the Rangers, who had a three-game winning streak snapped. Henrik Lundqvist made 23 saves, but took the loss for New York, which was 8-2-1 in its previous 11. "I thought we played a really strong game," Lundqvist said. "We created a lot of chances. It was a good hockey game, but we just came up a little short." The Rangers got their first power play 6:37 into the third period, but Bishop was solid -- stopping Mats Zuccarello in close. Bishop is 5-0 with a goals-against average under 1 against the Rangers. "I like playing against the best," Bishop said. "Henrik is obviously one of the best goalies ever. Its fun to play against those guys. I dont think the record means much, but for now its pretty nice." New York had another advantage in the final 5 minutes but didnt score. The Rangers had netted a power-play goal in five straight contests. The game quickly turned early in the second when Rangers captain Ryan Callahan was sent off for high-sticking Bishop in the head -- the first penalty for either team -- at 29 seconds. Hedman then fired a slap shot from just inside the blue line that beat Lundqvist at 1:10. Hedman showed no ill-effects after injuring his shoulder in the first period when he was went awkwardly into the boards on a hit by Brian Boyle. "A lot of players wouldve run Hedman into the ground, and Boyle pulled up and held up," Cooper said. "Ive got to give Boyle a lot of credit for being a hockey player in the game and not trying to hurt somebody." Before Hedmans 10th goal was announced to the crowd, the Lightning had grabbed the lead. After the ensuing faceoff, Lightning defenceman Radko Gudas sent a long pass to Kucherov, who came in alone on Lundqvist and scored his seventh of the season at 1:19. "We were very excited to play here," Hedman said. "This was a big game for our young guys." New York threatened to get even several times in the second, and had a few odd-man rushes, but Bishop was sharp and kept them at bay. He made a lunging glove grab of a drive by Callahan with 9:05 left in the period. "Its tough," Callahan said. "You dont always get the calls to go your way. They get one there, and we have a little bit of a lapse and they score another one. We had a lot of chances to get the equalizer ... we just didnt find it." The Rangers got on the board first. Carl Hagelin sent a shot in on Bishop from the left circle, and the rebound went behind the net. Callahan gathered the puck and sent a pass to Richards, who was standing where Hagelin had been, and snapped a shot that beat Bishop at 11:55 for his 12th goal -- tying him for the team lead. NOTES: Rangers coach Alain Vigneault hinted strongly that backup G Cam Talbot will start one of the games this weekend when New York plays Ottawa and Washington on consecutive days. ... Lightning C Nate Thompson sat out because of the flu. RW B.J. Crombeen was a healthy scratch. ... Lightning D Matt Carle had a career-high, seven-game point streak snapped. ... Tampa Bay is 16-10-4 without Stamkos (broken leg). Ken Daneyko Jersey . Today, well look at five frontcourt players today, here from the Bay Area. 1. AMIR JOHNSON (Raptors): I cant figure out what the issue or problem is, but based upon what Im seeing, hes not right. Will Butcher Jersey . -- Arkansas didnt need a spectacular dunk to beat No. http://www.devilssale.com/authentic-mart...ls-jersey/. Neither made it that far in 2013. Not even close. Federer lost his second match at the All England Club. Nadal exited in the first round, a year after bowing out in the second. Blake Coleman Devils Jersey . -- The Sacramento Kings have signed first-round pick Nik Stauskas to his rookie contract. Miles Wood Jersey .com) - The Milwaukee Bucks will try to get another win on this homestand Thursday night when they welcome the Utah Jazz to the Bradley Center.SAN ANTONIO - The San Antonio Spurs kept giving the Detroit Pistons hope. Brandon Jennings made the most of a last-second opening.The Pistons guard took a bad inbounds pass by Tim Duncan and drove the length of the court in the final seven seconds, weaving through San Antonios backpedaling defenders, to bank in an 11-foot jumper. The shot Tuesday lifted Detroit to its sixth straight victory, 105-104.His bucket backed up double-doubles from Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe and the Pistons rallied from 18 points down in the first half.We are getting better, Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy said. If you stay in there, sometimes you get a break. We had a very good break at the end. We got lucky at the end. Our resolve to stay in the game right down to the last few seconds was huge.Drummond had 20 points and 17 rebounds and Monroe added 17 points and 11 boards, as the Pistons snapped a four-game skid in San Antonio (21-15). D.J. Augustin added 19 points for Detroit (11-23), which has not lost since waiving Josh Smith on Dec. 22.San Antonio point guard Tony Parker played just 13 minutes in his return from a five-game absence due to a strained left hamstring. He was 0-for-3 shooting and had just two assists, but he did not appear to aggravate the injury.He wanted to play, but Im being conservative, coach Gregg Popovich said. He had 13 minutes. Thats good after sitting out as long as he did; make sure he doesnt reinjure the thing.Parker had missed 13 games total due to the injury, returning twice for a single game only to aggravate his hamstring. The Spurs were 6-7 in Parkers absence.It was part of an odd night for the defending NBA champions.The Spurs rallied behind five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, but were 4 for 7 on free throws in the final 2 minutes.San Antonio opted to intentionally foul Detroits Jodie Meeks after Patty Mills made 1 of 2 free throws with 10.8 seconds left to give the Spurs a 104-101 lead.Popovich was succinct when asked why he fouled in that situation.Becauuse I wanted to, he said.ddddddddddddMeeks made both shots, pulling the Pistons within 104-103 with eight seconds remaining.Those final eight seconds were the only time Duncan was on the court in the final quarter.I made different choices, Popovich said of his decision to sit Duncan.Duncans inbounds pass went off Mills hands and was gathered by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who passed it to Jennings. Unsure if there was a timeout remaining, Jennings charged down court.Once I got to the frontcourt, I was open for the 3, but I was like, Im not going to shoot the 3, Jennings said. Once I saw (Boris) Diaw get on the outside, Ive got a good opportunity to go past him and I shot the floater off the glass.After an official review, 0.1 seconds were placed on the clock, but the Spurs were unable to tip the ball before time expired.Jeff Ayres had a season-high 16 points and Duncan added 15 for the Spurs (21-15).After trailing by 18 points early in the second quarter, Detroit opened the third on a 23-11 run to take its first lead of the game. The surge included a 10-0 run capped by a pair of free throws by Monroe for a 72-69 lead with 5:11 remaining.TIP-INSPistons: Detroit is averaging 108.4 points in its past five games, exceeding its season average of 96.5. ... The Pistons held their previous five opponents under 45 per cent shooting. San Antonio shot 46 per cent. ... Detroit is averaging 8.5 3-pointers per game, which would eclipse their franchise high of 7.1 set in 1997 should it hold.Spurs: Coach Gregg Popovich continued to use mass substitutions, replacing his entire lineup on several occasions in an effort to keep his team fresh. ... Duncan was issued a technical foul with 5:31 remaining in the third quarter after screaming at Kane Fitzgerald over a non-call on his runner in the lane. ... C Aron Baynes (neck spasms) was a late scratch, sitting out his first game due to injury.UP NEXTPistons: Visit Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.Spurs: Host Phoenix Suns on Friday. ' ' '