TORONTO — The Lightning closed the series against the reigning Eastern Conference champions Boston Bruins in double overtime.
Tampa Bay secures a ticket to the Eastern Conference finals after the game-winning goal in double overtime from Victor Hedman.
After a scoreless first period, the Lightning drew first blood after Ondrej Palat found the back of the net via assists from Kevin Shattenkirk and Blake Coleman a little over four minutes into the second period.
Lightning star Nikita Kucherov was taken to the dressing room after taking a stick to the face from Bruins' Zdeno Chara. Chara was issued a 4-minute penalty for the incident. Kucherov returned briefly in the second period but never returned for the third period.
Boston's David Pastrnak answered about eight minutes later in the second period on a one-timer from David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron to tie the game up 1-1.
Tampa Bay's Anthony Cirelli deflected a shot from Victor Hedman to break the tie and give the Bolts a lead late in the third period. Boston's David Krejci tied the game late in the third period.
SERIES SCHEDULE
- Game 1: Bruins 3, Lightning 2
- Game 2: Lightning 4, Bruins 3 (OT)
- Game 3: Lightning 7, Bruins 1
- Game 4: Lightning 3, Bruins 1
- Game 4: Lightning 3, Bruins 2 (2OT)
HOW THEY GOT HERE
The Lightning secured the second seed in the Eastern Conference bracket after finishing second to the Philadelphia Flyers in round-robin play. Tampa Bay beat the Columbus Blue Jackets, the team the Lightning got swept by in the first round of the 2019 playoffs, in five hard-fought games.
Tampa Bay finished second in the pandemic-shortened regular season to the Boston Bruins. Despite finishing the regular season with the best record, the Bruins finished last in round-robin play so Boston secured the fourth seed in the first round of the playoffs.
The Bruins advanced to the second round after taking the series 4-1 over the Carolina Hurricanes.
