Pittsburgh Penguins v Tampa Bay Lightning Game 5

Both teams had players returning after suspension, Kunitz for the Penguins and Downie for the Lightning.
Pittsburgh were looking for an early end to the series.

Pavel Kubina took the first penalty of the game at 6.47, the Penguins creating the first sustained pressure of the game but Roloson easily able to fend off any attempt on target.

Brooks Orpik had the crowd cheering with just under 7 minutes left in the opening period as his blast from the point literally rattled the pipes, the crowd thinking it had hit a back stantion as the net physically wobbled.

Pittsburgh were pinning the Lightning in their own end and all the play was down infront of Roloson in the Tampa net.

Simon Gagne gave Tampa Bay the lead at 16.57 completely against the run of play. A sequence of 7 quick passes between Purcell, Lecavalier and Gagne finished with a shot from Purcell that he thought was in. The ref behind the goal waved it off as it looked like it had come back off the bar but Gagne had swept in the rebound infront of the net anyway and th Lightning were 1 up.

Stamkos added to the opener quickly at 17.43 He redirected a Downie slapshot into the chest of Fluery, controlled the rebound with his foot and got it to his stick to fire in from the crease.

Lecavalier took a high stick all with just over 30 seconds left, the Lightning running the period clock down safely but starting the 2nd on the penalty kill. 13-8 the Penguins were outshooting at the end of the 1st.

Tampa Bay killed off the remaining powerplay and took a 3-0 lead as Lecavalier scored as he returned to the ice. St Louis got the puck deep into the corner and Stamkos battled for it and made the pass right infront to the unmarked number 4 who tipped it into the net. It was just 1.55 into the period.

Roloson was still looking shaky in the Lightning net, playing a puck off the boards behind is net and out infront. Fortunately it was a defenceman to it first to clear the puck. The Lightning had broken into Pittsburgh and were robbing the Penguins.

Tampa bay gave Pittsburgh their 3rd powerplay when they were called for too many men on the ice, giving the Penguins the chance to get back into the game.
However, straight after the penalty kill again the Lightning scored. It was Gagne with his 2nd of the game picking up a rebound again and putting into an unguarded net. Fluery was pulled at this point and replaced by Brent Johnson.

Stamkos made it 5-0 with 13.00 still left in the 2nd, chipping in a loose puck after an attempt by Brewer. It did deflect off a defenceman's stick that ultimately took it past Johnson. A powerplay goal on the first chance for the Lightning.
A 4th powerplay chance for Pittsburgh was cut short, Lecavalier going for hooking at 9.20 and Letang going for cross checking 19 seconds later. This gave us the first 4 on 4 ice time, the Lightning controlling the puck without creating a noteable chance.
Another penalty on the Lightning's Hedman at 17.02 still didn't see the Penguins produce any great opportuity and Tampa Bay were able to take their 5 goal advantage into the 3rd.

That advantage had been extended to 7 by 5.45 of the 3rd period with Kubina getting himself 2 powerplay goals. The first at 2.54 was a slapshat assisted byPurcell and the second at 5.45 was tipped infront after a beautiful cross ice pass from Purcell, the 2nd powerplay unit getting both goals. Purcell picking up his 3rd assist of the game.

Pittsburgh finally got themselves on the board and broke Roloson's shut out at 6.36. It was Rupp having 2 whacks of the puck from the crease, picking up his own rebound off the 1st and sticking it into the net with his 2nd. Conner got Pittsburgh's 2nd at 8.22, wristing a shot past Roloson.

The final goal of the game saw Tampa Bay get their 8th goal, the 3rd powerplay one of the game. It was Moore at 15.35 with a wrist shot seeing out the game.

Pittsburgh completly blown away after starting the game positively. Until the Lightning got the first 2 goals quickly towards the end of the 1st it had almost been all Pittsburgh with Tampa Bay struggling to get decent possesion and pressure in the Pittsburgh end. We will now return to Tampa Bay for game 6 next week.