The Pens were on home ice infront of a fantastic crowd that belted out the national anthem at the start. The Lightning were hoping to steal the game and get themselves into round 2.
An upbeat start saw the Pens hitting hard and the Lightning trying to get the puck in deep without either team creating an outstanding chance. The game was 6 minutes in as Letang crashed the net and took Roloson into it with him, the netminder keeping the puck out and no call made on the play.
A hit on Talbot by Ohlund sent him into the ledge around the boards but there was no call made. Talbot stayed down on the ice and when the Penguins finally touched the puck the whistle was blown for him to get some attention. The crowd not liking the non call for boarding.
An interference call at 11.23 was made against Brewer and sent the Penguins on the powerplay. They had most of this time in the Tampa Bay zone, getting 4 shots on as well as a few blocked shots but the Lightning held firm and killed it off.
Pittsburgh went back on the powerplay with 5.10.left in the period as St Louis was called for trippng. However, the stuttering Pens powerplay still couldn't get anything going and they now only had 1 goal to show for over 30 chances in the series.
The Lightning were weathering the early Penguins storm, being outshot through the 1st period 15 to 7 but not letting anything through. Pittsburgh yet to give away a penalty and staying disciplined in their defensive end.
Stamkos got a tripping call just 1.22 into the 2nd, diving to try and block Staal from shooting inbetween the circles and catching the defenceman with his feet. Roloson took good position on 2 or 3 Penguin chances, not allowing a rebound and killing off the 3rd powerplay.
Both teams started the 2nd with a jump and the Lightning started to get some pressure around the net. They got the lead at 5.41 with Bergenheim getting the puck past Fluery after a clever reverse pass from Moore as he was skating one way around the net and passed the puck infront the other way.
Tampa Bay got their first powerplay chance at 7.48 with Orpik taking a hooking call. The Lightning were 6 for 14 already on away ice. Fluery though was to pull off the save of the series with 6 seconds left on the penalty, bringing the crowd to their feet and back into the game. It was a Kubina shot from the bottom of the circle that the netminder got an acrabatic glove to as he was sliding across the net to keep it down to only 1 goal for the Lightning.
The Penguins took another penalty almost straight after with Neal going for slashing at 10.41.The Penguins killed their 2nd straight with some desperation hockey but the game remained with only 1 goal difference.
Pittsburgh were getting back into the game after killing the 2 penalties but still not getting that clear chance they needed to tie the game up. Either the defence were blocking the shots or Roloson was covering them.
The game would go into the 3rd period with the Lightning 1-0 up.
Roloson was called into action less than 2 minutes into the period as Letang rushed in with the puck and fed it to Kennedy for a couple of whacks infront that the netminder got something on. He then absorbs a couple of long shots into his pads to get the whistle and the Penguins were still finding it hard to find a way past him.
The Lightning took a penalty for too many men on the ice at 5.25, Downie jumping on the ice with no one looking to come off. Again, the Penguins failed to generate much and they went 0 for 24 on home ice with the man advantage.
The Lightning were certainly looking just to try and see this game out with good defensive hockey. They weren't taking any risks to try and get forward and were nullifying the Penguins as they came forwards. Letanf was trying his hardest for the Penguins to get something going but it wasn't happening as the clock read 6.36 left.
Fluery pulled off a good save from Hall with the inside of his blocker arm to keep the Penguins in with the chance of tying the game but time was running out as the clock got below the 2 minute mark. The Lightning were playing the simple game of getting the puck out of their own zone and getting it deep into the Pittsburgh end.
With 1.33 left on the period, Thompson got called for slashing as Kunitz stick broke in his hand on a face off in the offensive zone. Fluery was pulled to make it a 6 on 4 to give the Penguins a 2 man advantage but an empty net at the other end.
Pittsburgh called their time out with just over 30 seconds left after Roloson had yet again smothered another puck on a long range shot.
The Penguins couldn't get one final big chance to tie the game and the Lightning killed off the period and powerplay to take a 1-0 win and cap a superb comeback in the series. After being 3-1 down they won 3 straight and will face the Washington Capitals in the next round.
Roloson was immense with 36 saves and a well deserved shut out. Nothing bounced off him. He just didn't give up a big rebound all night. Pittsburgh badly missed the creative flair of Malkin and Crosby all series and just didn't have anyone to step up to the plate. Asham tried his hardest and was the Penguins player of the series but Tampa Bay managed to score goals when they needed to in games 5 & 6 and were able to call on 4 or 5 big players and played a magnificent defensive game after going 1-0 up in this one.
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