Tampa Bay Lightning: Top 5 2015 Playoff Moments

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Apr 23, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center

Tyler Johnson

(center) receives congratulations from teammates after scoring in overtime against the Detroit Red Wings in game four of the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Joe Louis Arena. Tampa Bay won 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Comeback in Motown

Trailing the best of seven first round series against the legendary Detroit Red Wings 2 games to 1, the Tampa Bay Lightning faced a crucial test in Game 4. A win would send the series home on even terms while a loss could end their dream sooner rather than later.

After 54 minutes, the Bolts were in dire straits. They trailed 2-0 and looked lost at sea, unable to break the Red Wings suffocating defense let alone rookie goaltender Petr Mrazek.

Enter the triplet line of Nikita Kucherov, Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat. The trio scored twice in a little over a minute to force overtime, then sealed the deal with another goal nearly two and a half minutes into the extra frame.

Johnson was the hero, with the first and last goal, but he wouldn’t have gotten that opportunity without the help of his linemates. Put together, they were far and away the most dangerous line in the NHL last season.

Detroit witnessed this first hand and the results weren’t exactly favorable. A game they thought they had won with relative ease turned into a nightmare that ended up shaping the outcome of this series.

On the opposite side of the ledger, the Bolts salvaged a win when it was desperately needed. Some may even say they saved their season. Whatever your opinion may be, the fact remains that this was a step in the right direction for a team that hadn’t faced many challenges coming in.

Next: The Emergence of Ben Bishop

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