Lightning Squeak Out OT Win Over Penguins

These are the things that are supposed to cripple a team. You give up a goal with 0.7 seconds left in the first period.

You fall behind two goals to the highest-scoring team in the NHL since December. You give up another goal in the final minute of the second period to fall behind 3-2 heading into the third. You have a shot that caroms off a post and rolls across the goal line yet somehow doesn't kick in off the opposing netminder's skate and into the net.

And then, apparently because you're the Tampa Bay Lightning, none of that matters.

Because all of those things happened to Tampa Bay in Game 5 at the Consol Energy Center on Sunday night and the Lightning still found a way to squeak out a 4-3 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins that gives them a chance to advance to their second straight Stanley Cup finals with a win in Game 6 on Tuesday night in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning now lead these Eastern Conference finals 3-2.

The fact that the winner came 53 seconds into overtime when a Jason Garrison shot bounced in off Tyler Johnson's backside was just another indication that whatever you think about resiliency and determination, maybe you just don't know anything at all, at least when it comes to the Lightning.

"I thought he was going for my head again," said Johnson, who has now scored back-to-back winners without actually touching the puck with his stick, having scored the Game 4 winner when the puck deflected in off his skate.

Blues Sticking With What Works

St. Louis Blues coach Ken Hitchcock is sticking with what works, giving goaltender Jake Allen another start.

Allen made his first start of the postseason Saturday after relieving Brian Elliott in Game 3. In Game 4, Allen made 31 saves in the Blues' 6-3 win, evening the series at two wins apiece. St. Louis hosts San Jose Monday.

"I am comfortable with either guy, but I woke up this morning and talked to the coaches again and decided to go with Jake," Hitchcock said Sunday.

The Blues had been shut out in two straight games to fall behind 2-1 in their conference final matchup with the San Jose Sharks. Elliott allowed three goals on 14 shots in Game 3 before being pulled midway through the third period.

Elliott had been stellar in goal as the Blues beat the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks in the first round, stopped the Western Conference points leader Dallas Stars in the second round and beat the Sharks 2-1 in the series opener. But St. Louis couldn't get anything going in the next two games.

Because of injuries to Elliott, Allen started 43 games this season, going 26-15-3 with a 2.35 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage. Elliott was 23-8-6 with a 2.07 GAA and a .930 save percentage during the regular season and had started all 17 Blues playoffs games.

Sunday, May 22 Scoreboard

Tampa Bay 4, Pittsburgh 3 (OT)

Game 5 - Lightning lead 3-2

Monday, May 23 Schedule (Time Central)

San Jose at St. Louis
Game 5 - Series tied 2-2, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, May 24 Schedule (Time Central)

Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay

Game 6 - Lightning lead 3-2, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, May 25 Schedule (Time Central)

St. Louis at San Jose

Game 6 - Series tied 2-2, 8 p.m.

Thursday, May 26 Schedule (Time Central)

Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh

Game 7* - Lightning lead 3-2, 7 p.m.

Friday, May 27 Schedule (Time Central)

San Jose at St. Louis

Game 7* - Series tied 2-2, 7 p.m.

Saturday, May 28

No Games Scheduled