By Chris O'Meara, APTampa Bay Lightning left Sean Bergenheim, right, celebrates with Steve Downie after scoring a second-period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Tampa.
By Chris O'Meara, APTampa Bay Lightning left Sean Bergenheim, right, celebrates with Steve Downie after scoring a second-period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Tampa.
The goalkeeper for 41 years, that says that the key to thriving in the postseason is to have a short-term memory, stopped 27 shots Monday night to defeat Marc-André Fleury (FSY Pittsburgh) and beat the penguins 4-2 to force a game 7 in their Eastern Conference first round.The decisive game is Wednesday night in Pittsburgh, where fifth-seeded Tampa Bay has won twice this postseason, including a blowout of 5 games of 8-2 which began his return from a 3-1 deficit in the series. "We just played two game 7s because that is the position we're in, "Lightning coach Guy Boucher said after his team avoided elimination for the second time in three days. "The fifth match was a do or die for us and the sixth was do or die".Steve Downie (FSY) put the lightning ahead for good, scoring just over a minute after Jordan Staal (Pittsburgh FSY) gave the life of penguins fourth seeded with a goal that made it 2-2 early in the third. Teddy Purcell (FSY), Sean Bergenheim (FSY) and Ryan Malone (FSY) also scored against Fleury, who faltered for the second straight game. "Is a seven-game series. "They are a good team, said James Neal (Pittsburgh FSY)."We played them tough all series long. It comes down to one now. Put it out of line ... do what we can and leave with the victory. "Series tied 3-3.
Game 1: Pittsburgh 3, Tampa Bay 0
Game 2: Tampa Bay 5, Pittsburgh 1
Game 3: Pittsburgh 3, Tampa Bay 2
Game 4: Pittsburgh 3, Tampa Bay 2 (2OT)
Game 5: Tampa Bay 8, Pittsburgh 2
Game 5: Tampa Bay 4, Pittsburgh 2
27 April: at Pittsburgh, 7
Pulled after yielding four goals on 14 shots in game 5, Fleury couldn't protect a head start and struggled again when Pittsburgh looked to have regained momentum.The goalkeeper of Pittsburgh was spectacular in game 1, providing a 32-save performance overhead that produced his fifth career postseason blocking. He has struggled on losses of three of the penguins and allowed the lightning rally deficits of two goals in two games that Pittsburgh went on to win.Still, Fleury expects the penguins to regroup and win game 7. "We know we can play, "said Fleury. "I'm still positive and I think we can do it."Goal of go-ahead Downie came moments after Roloson rejected point-blank shots by Maxime Talbot (FSY) and Pascal Dupuis (FSY). The goalkeeper of Tampa Bay was at his best in the second period, when the lightning killed four penalties and failed Chris Conner (FSY Pittsburgh) to score on a penalty shot that would have tied the score.Malone beat Fleury, who had 17 saves in a breakaway Republic to make it 4-2 in the middle of the third ".We stayed with our game plan and did what we had to do to win a hockey game, "said Roloson, who rebounded from giving up a goal in overtime that clinched the game 4 to stop 31 shots on Saturday and continue to overshadow Fleury on Monday night. "We don't change anything."Lightning goaltender stopped two shots by Talbot and a rebound by Dupuis before Downie scored seconds later. "Goaltenders must be pending in the playoffs. ... That was a key moment. "It was an upgrade for the team, Boucher said.This is what makes Rollie, "Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay said. "He steps up to the challenge."Stamkos, Simon Gagne (FSY) and Pavel Kubina (FSY) scored two goals in a 5–2 game lightning when Boucher encouraged his players to shoot the puck more in the hope of increasing opportunities for rebounds. The result was a flurry of goals pursued Fleury less than 15 minutes to rout.Lightning started slowly, going almost 11 minutes without getting a shot and stay behind when Talbot took bad pass behind the net Roloson to feed Dupuis for his first goal of the series. This changed when Purcell scored on a rebound 10 seconds after the penguins killed off a penalty.Bergenheim's goal, leaving a nifty pass from Dominic Moore (FSY), gave Tampa Bay a home advantage for the first time in the series. The penguins squandered leads 2-0 in games 3 and 4 at the St. Pete Times Forum, however, they recovered to win both to regain an advantage of 3-1 series of Pittsburgh Penguins continued to fight The on the power play0 to 5, will fall to 1 to 30 in the series. "We just have to stick with it. No use getting frustrated, "said Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang (FSY). "We know that we had chances to end it here, but it is a seven-game series and we'll leave to fight in our building".Notes: For the first time in the series, the team that scored first won. ... Conner's penalty shot was the sixth Pittsburgh postseason play, and the first since Evgeni Malkin (FSY) failed attempt on May 1, 2008, against the New York Rangers. The penguins failed to capitalize on five opportunities since Jaromir Jagr (FSY) target 11 May 1992. in a game against the Rangers. ... Fleury fell for all times in the postseason, including a 6-2 in eight previous 12-5.Copyright 2010 the Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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