You are going to play games like these in the playoffs. Pundits, coaches, and players always preach that there won’t be shootouts from April to June. Saturday afternoon was the perfect example of that. The Lightning got off to an early lead thanks to a Mikhail Sergachev goal, but man did things tighten up after that. Tampa Bay had numerous chances to extend the lead, including a stretch in the 2nd period where they basically had 8 straight minutes on the power play. Cory Schneider was an absolute brick wall though as he not only tried everything to keep his team alive in the game, but in the series. Andrei Vasilevskiy was just as stout on the other end and Nikita Kucherov finally got his team some breathing room in the 3rd, en route to the series ending, 3-1 victory.
The Lightning came out in this one like they were ready to close it out. They had the energy from the start and JT Miller got the 1st grade A chance of the game, but was denied by Cory Schneider. Schneider couldn’t keep the Bolts off the board for long though. Young Mikhail Sergachev came through in a big way as his wrist shot opened up the scoring just over 8 minutes in. The success for the Bolts continued throughout the period, while the shots on goal difference wasn’t great, Tampa Bay controlled the play and certainly had more legitimate opportunities. They almost doubled their lead late in the frame when Yanni Gourde fed the puck to Alex Killorn the puck with no one but Schneider in front of him, but the man who has been dubbed Mr.Playoffs this year stumbled and wasn’t able to cash in this time.
The Lightning got the 1st power play chance of the game in the opening minutes of the 2nd period, but New Jersey was able to fend off multiple chances to keep the Bolts from doubling their lead. A too many men on the ice penalty forced the Devils to go right back on the PK. Schneider proved why their coach put him back in net. He made an amazing save on a snipe shot from Nikita Kucherov. 2 more penalties followed that, but the Lightning again could not cash in on virtually 8 straight minutes with a man advantage.
The Lightning started the final period of regulation on yet another power play thanks to a cross checking penalty at the end of the 2nd. The Jersey streak of consecutive penalty kills continued and grew to 5 as Tampa Bay struggled once again. The Bolts then finally had to kill a penalty of their own about halfway through the 3rd. The Tampa Bay PK was just as up to the task as New Jersey had been. Shortly after that the constant pressure finally got to Schneider. A ridiculous shot from Nikita Kucherov finally gave Tampa Bay some breathing room and doubled the lead to 2-0. New Jersey finally got on the board with 3 minutes remaining in the period, but couldn’t get the tying goal past Vasilevskiy as the Lightning closed out the series in 5 games.
Tampa Bay will now await the victor of the series between the Bruins and Maple Leafs. Boston leads that series, 3-1, with a chance to close it out tonight. Regardless of who wins that series, game 1 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals for the Bolts will take place at Amalie Arena.
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
1. TBL - Sergachev - (Cirelli) - 8:07
2ND PERIOD
NONE
3RD PERIOD
1. TBL - Kucherov - (Stralman, Stamkos) - 12:27
2. NJD - Palmieri - (Butcher, Hall) - 17:00
3. TBL - Callahan - (Hedman) - 19:59
PENALTY SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
NONE
2ND PERIOD
1. NJD - Zacha - (Holding) - 5:05
2. NJD - Bench Minor - (Too Many Men On Ice) - 7:10
3. NJD - Palmieri - (Tripping) - 11:12
4. NJD - Severson - (Holding) - 13:26
5. NJD - Greene - (Cross Checking) - 20:00
3RD PERIOD
1. TBL - Cirelli - (High Sticking) - 9:03
SHOTS ON GOAL
Tampa Bay - 38
New Jersey- 27