Stars coach Jim Montgomery names his goaltender for Game 7.

This could not have been an easy call for Dallas Stars head coach Jim Montgomery.

The rookie National Hockey League head coach saw his team completely fall apart in the 3rd period of Game 6 over the weekend and there is no question that a large part of that collapse has to be laid at the feet of Dallas Stars #1 goaltender Ben Bishop. Bishop was felled by a huge shot from St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko and, although many feel that the NHL officials on the ice should have protected Bishop and blown the play dead, Bishop's inability to get back into the play resulted in a huge goal for the Blues.

It is of course understandable that Bishop was hurt on the play, but he was not so hurt that he felt the need to leave the game after the fact. While Bishop was too injured to make any effort to stop the puck, a few moments later he felt healthy enough to remain in the game. A stinger can obviously be extremely painful so I don't fully blame Bishop here, but in the Stanley Cup Playoffs you would hope to see your goalie attempt to finish the play. Of course my view of that situation is also tainted by the fact that I know Bishop would remain in the game, only to give up a goal on the very next shot from the Blues. Again I do not fully blame Bishop here as the Stars hung him out to dry by giving the Blues a 2 on 0 breakaway opportunity, but you really need your goaltender to come up with a big save in that situation to prevent the game from getting out of hand. 

I would not have been surprised to see Montgomery's faith in Bishop shaken as a result of that third period, especially given how well backup goaltender Anton Khudobin has played for the Dallas Stars when called upon this season. As well as Khudobin has played however, Bishop has unquestionably been the better overall goaltender this season and throughout his entire NHL career. 

It's a tough call, and perhaps even an unpopular one after the fiasco in Game 6, but I think it is the right one from Montgomery.