Game 4 of this series started with both teams trying to feel their way in.
The first powerplay came at 2.06 with Asham going for cross checking. The Lightning had the 2nd best powerplay so far in the playoffs but it didn't get going early and the Penguins were able to kill it off.
The Penguins got their 1st powerplay at 8.14 and were able to take full advantage of it, their 1st of the series. Kennedy sending a wrsit shot shortside on Roloson.
They got their 2nd powerplay chance at 16.49, Bergenheim being called for high sticking. This was killed off comfortably by the Lightning.
Neither team was really able to get going in the first, both teams struggling to create any real clear cut chances or momentum. It was a cagey 1st period that saw defence coming out on top. The Penguins were doing a good job of pressuring the Tampa Bay players and they were struggling on entry into the zone. Penguins took a 12-6 shot advantage into the 2nd.
The 2nd period startd with the Penguins taking a 2 goal advantage at 2.39. It was Asham who got it, picking up a rebound from Roloson who had kicked out Lovejoy's shot and firing a wrist shot through him.
The Penguins outshot the Lightning heavily again in the 2nd period, 18-8 but Tampa Bay had managed to make it a 1 goal game with 2.46 left in the 2nd. LeCavalier chipping a puck over the blue line to the rushing St Louis who controlled it, slid it under the defencemans stick and released a quick shot that went high stick side on Fluery. That was St Louis 4th of the series so far.
A Goalie interference call on Neal with 41 seconds left allowed the Lightning to gather even more momentum after that goal and meant they went into the 3rd period with the man advantage.
The 3rd period took its time to get going, Roloson making a good double save from Neal. As Neal went to get the puck in the corner to try and create a 3rd chance he took a cross checking minor at 9.54
The Lightning failed to get anything going, only having 1 shot but controlling the puck in the zone.
The Lightning had a great chance with 5 minutes left, St Louis stealing the puck on the boards and finding Stamkos, who made a reverse pass towards St Louis. The pass was almost perfect, St Louis only managing to get the tip of his stick on it and not able to get it on goal.
Tampa Bay got the equaliser with 3.17 left in the 3rd, a mad scramble in front being put home by Bergenheim. Fluery saved the shot in from the point but as the defence collapsed to try and clear the puck it ended up right on the Lightning players stick.
With 1.22 left Brewer made a big hit on Talbot against the boards. A good clean hit that seemed to shake up Talbot.
The 3rd period finished with the score at 2-2 and the series headed into overtime for the first time.
Shots on goal were 40 to 22 in favour of the Penguins.
The first pressure of the OT period came from the Penguins, with Roloson making 2 important saves with his pads to keep the Lightning in it.
Stamkos then had a couple of attempts 5 minutes in, hitting the base of the net and sending another wide.
With 8 minutes left Roloson made another big save from Asham. Staal came in 1 on 1 with the goalie from the wing. Asham skated infront looking for a rebound and instead got a pass and he could only put the puck onto Roloson's pad.
With 2.26 left in OT, Adams got called for tripping and gave the Lightning the 1st powerplay of overtime. A bad penalty to take for the Penguins. Despite good zone pressure again from the Lightning they still couldn't force a winner and the game went into a 2nd OT period.
It took 3.38 of this 2nd OT period to get a winner, Neal just firing a puck towards the net from right against the boards and it rising up into the net over Roloson's shoulder. The Tampa Bay crowd going into stunned silence as Pittsburgh pinched their 2nd away win and took a 3-1series lead.
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