The Lightning are 5-1 all-time in Game 7s, including a victory over the Penguins in Game 7 of the 2011 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals – a 1-0 win backed by Sean Bergenheim’s goal and a 36-save effort from goaltender Dwayne Roloson.
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With his third game-winning goal of the series, Sidney Crosby takes Tuesday’s man of Stihl honours and moves to the top of the leaderboard.
On Tuesday, Malkin and the Penguins would come through on their promise with a 5-2 win over the Lightning at Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay, Florida. Now the Lightning had scored the first goal.
Rust got a breakaway goal with 2:08 left and Bonino added an empty-netter with 53 seconds left to pull away. The goal was cleared from the scoreboards and social media, along with the team’s momentum.
It’s the same trap they fell into last spring when they took a 3-2 lead over the Rangers in Game 5 of the ECF but couldn’t close the deal in Game 6 at home.
The Lightnings goal was overturned by a shrewd challenge by Pens head coach Mike Sullivan as Drouin was considered offside on the zone entry. He put the Penguins up 3-1 in the third period of Game 3, then Pittsburgh went up 4-1 before the Lightning closed the gap to two with a late goal.
The Penguins, who were facing elimination for the first time in the 2016 postseason after back-to-back losses, got goals from five different players in game six and 30 saves from rookie goalie Matt Murray.
Just over 5 minutes into the start of Game 6 last night, Jonathan Drouin scored to give the Tampa Bay Lightning a 1-0 lead.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are headed home for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final.
Forwards Phil Kessel and Crosby, and defenseman Kris Letang helped build a 3-0 lead in the second period, but Tampa Bay’s Brian Boyle gave the defending East champs a shot with two goals in the third.
The Tampa Bay Lighting hosted a very well-attended viewing party on Sunday for Game 5 of their Eastern Conference Finals series with Pittsburgh.
Asked about Malkin’s vow Monday that the series would go back to the Steel City, Sullivan replied: “I think it’s tremendous to show faith in teammates”.
Crosby, who had four shots on goal and one assist, also scored what was one of the prettiest goals of the series.
“When I was a kid, you just went in and played”, he said after the Penguins’ game-day skate.
Now there’s another Game 7, another hill to climb. Both goalies have had rough showing in the series, as has San Jose’s Martin Jones, so it’s going to come down to who’s on his game.
The difference between this game and all the others that Stamkos has missed is that the Lightning, with a loss, will have played their final game of the season. His youthful poise will be a key factor in whether the Penguins are able to emerge from Game 7. However, during Game 6, the Rangers were dominant, defeating the Lightning by a score of 7-3, and sending the series back to Madison Square Garden for a decisive Game 7.
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