After going eight consecutive games without scoring a goal, Sidney Crosby posted his second in back-to-back games with a slap shot from the right circle on a power-play that would end up being the game winning goal for Pittsburgh.
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However, despite a late attack on their goal, the Lightning held on for the slender win to ensure the best-of-seven series will be decided in at least six games. The defending Eastern Conference champions were outshot 48-28, including 38-16 over the last two periods. Tampa Bay’s starting goalie has been huge for the Bolts in the playoffs going 8-2 in eleven games played in the playoffs with a 1.86 goals-against average and a. 939 save-percentage.
Marc-Andre Fleury replaced Murray in goal for the Penguins at the start of the third, and Kessel’s team-leading eighth goal began the rally that just fell short.
Phil Kessel celebrates goal versus the Tampa Bay Lightning.
That the Penguins, who reclaimed home-ice advantage, have an early edge in the series isn’t a complete surprise, but the fact that they have 89 shots in the past two games likely is. I just feel bad for the kid that he’s keeping us in there and we’re not finding a way to bail him out.
“We are feeding their game a lot more than they are feeding ours”, Stralman said.
After a sub-par performance throughout the Eastern Conference semi-finals against the Washington Capitals, the Penguins’ captain is beginning to assert himself. The goal apparently opened the floodgates to a wild third period in which five goals were scored.
Whether it’s Vasilevskiy in net Friday or Bishop, this much remains the same: a Lightning win and it’s a best of three-game series.
“Yes @ShawnMichaels! Awesome you are coming to game 5 to see our great city, fans & @penguins!” Goaltender Ben Bishop, who injured his leg early in Game 1 and hasn’t played since, is hoping to come back in time for Friday’s game. 14 seconds later, Tyler Johnson stormed the middle of the ice and scored for the Lightning. They got some good chances after that, but the Penguins defense stood tall.
“We talked. Different guys voiced some opinions”, Stamkos said. “Every game in the playoffs is, but at this point you definitely don’t want to go back to Pittsburgh (down) 3-1”.
But let’s be honest, in the past two games with how Tampa Bay’s skaters have played, it wouldn’t matter who was in net. Drouin scored with a minute left in a four-minute power play that Penguins were unable kill with defenseman Kris Letang in the penalty box for cross-checking and roughing.
“[Vasilevskiy] was unreal tonight”, Lightning coach Jon Cooper said.
Bonino and Hagelin earn the assists on the Kessel goal. Andrei Vasilevskiy was continually tested to the point where Cooper had to use his timeout as the Lightning were outshot 17-5, allowing a new postseason-high of 31 shots after 40 minutes.
This is only the second time the Lightning has trailed in a series during this postseason.
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Murray was recalled twice from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season, making his National Hockey League debut on December 19 in a 2-1 loss to Carolina. A long shot from Hedman was redirected in front of the net by Ryan Callahan and past Murray for his second goal of the playoffs.
