TAMPA, Fla. – Do you have any fingernails remaining? Perhaps the edge of your seat is worn because it was next to impossible to sit back, especially as the clock melted away in the third period.
Then Mikhail Sergachev put a wrister on net that ticked off Game 3 hero Ondrej Palat with 1:50 remaining. The same Mikhail Sergachev who tied the game in the second period to end a 39-game postseason goal drought. (Hey, with this team, whatever it takes.)
Alas, you were not able to exhale in earnest until Brandon Hagel deposited an empty-netter. Then when Steven Stamkos started landing punches, well, you knew that everything was just fine.
A 3-1 win over the Rangers in Game 5 at the Garden on Thursday night means Lightning fans have a chance to see their team clinch yet another trip to the Stanley Cup final on Saturday night (8 p.m., ESPN) at Amalie Arena.
The battle of attrition, known as this Eastern Conference Final, has seen the Lightning win three straight after losing the first two on Broadway. The script on Thursday night was one that had the Lightning bend, but not break. They fell behind and got back up.
What else is new?
They lost two defensemen (Zach Bogosian, Ryan McDonagh) in the third period. They both returned, McDonagh after 13 minutes.
Whatever it takes to get it done is what the Lightning do. Now, they are this close to playing for Lord Stanley’s chalice once again
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