Maine Takes Over the Stanley Cup: Both Goalies Are Black Bears!

The UMaine Black Bears took over the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs last night! The goalies from both the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Chicago Blackhawks are Maine Ice Hockey alums!

Now that the Bruins are toast, I say.... Go Blue!

The pair of former University of Maine goaltenders will battle for the NHL's top spot in the first UMaine-against-UMaine goalie matchup the Stanley Cup has ever seen. Ben Bishop has backstopped the Tampa Bay Lightning to the finals, while Scott Darling has been playing a back-up role with the Chicago Blackhawks. It is the first time in history that a pair of goalies from the same school will meet for the Cup. Very cool!

From GoBlackBears.com:

Bishop played in 99 games for the Black Bears from 2005-2008 and posted a mark of 55-35-7 with a 2.29 goals against average and a .917 save percentage. He recorded five shutouts with the Black Bears and led Maine to the 2007 Frozen Four, played in his hometown of St. Louis.

 

Darling has seen action in five games in the playoffs for the Chicago Blackhawks, making four starts. He is 3-1 with a 2.21 goals against average and a .936 save percentage. He stopped all 42 shots that he faced after replacing Corey Crawford in a first round game against Nashville on April 15. He made 50 saves in a triple overtime win against Nashville on April 21.