5 Takeaways from Lightning vs. Leafs Game 6

This series was born to go seven games. The Lightning somehow came out on the right side of the second straight complete roller coaster of a game. With the season on the line, Tampa Bay just once again found a way as Brayden Point came up with the overtime winner late in the first overtime period.

The season was on life support as Tampa Bay was outplayed for much of the game at 5-on-5. They took advantage of all the chances they had to fight another day and force a winner take all game seven on Saturday night.

Let’s get into what we took away.

1. The Roller Coaster

For the second straight game, the Lightning surrendered a 2-0 lead. Not only did they lose that lead in the second period alone, but they also surrendered the tying and go-ahead goal for Toronto in the final minute of the second. The lead they had was turned completely on its head in stunning fashion.

A strong start to the game was once again squandered and seemed as though the game and the season had completely slipped away. That was all forgotten with Nikita Kucherov’s tying goal on the two-man advantage in the third period. From that point on, Tampa Bay took a stranglehold on the game and seemed destined to score another in regulation, but it would have to wait.

2. Scoring in Every Other Situation

Again, Toronto had the better of the play at 5-on-5. And the three Lightning regulation goals came in just about every other situation there is.

Ondrej Palat’s goal to open the scoring came at 4-on-4 after Tampa Bay surrendered a pair of goals at 4-on-4 in game 5. Anthony Cirelli scored his first of the series shorthanded and Kucherov on the powerplay gave the Lightning life when they seemed left for dead.

3. Hagel’s Own Roller Coaster

Brandon Hagel had a golden opportunity to score what could have been the game winner late in regulation. He had a gaping net and put the puck right through the other side. That moment looked like it could have been a haunting moment for the Lightning letting one slip away. Hagel came back in overtime and had the secondary assist on the winning goal. He threw the puck into a dangerous area of the ice, and they finally pushed it across. Hagel had a solid game and earned a big piece of the winner after letting one pass him by in regulation.

5. Finally, OT Success

On the Lightning’s Road to the Stanley Cup a season ago, they went 0-4 in games that went to overtime. A bit of a mind-blowing stat as most cup runs have their share of overtime dramatics. Point’s goal was the epitome of winning anyway you can in the playoffs. It was not pretty. In fact, it was ugly. They don’t ask how; they ask how many.

Now, Tampa Bay will need to put together a 60-minute performance if they want to advance. But hey, they are still playing.