5 Takeaways from Stanley Cup Final Game 5

3. Lightning Win Special Teams Battle

This was the first game of the series in which the Lightning were able to win the special teams battle. And for much of the series, that has not even really been a battle. The Lightning held Colorado scoreless on their two power plays after they had scored a power play goal in every game of the series so far. On top of that, the Lightning were finally able to score on the powerplay as Nikita Kucherov converted on a four-on-three-man advantage.

Special teams were one of the biggest aspects of the series that you could have pointed to for why Tampa Bay found themselves in a 3-1 hole. They just could not stop the red-hot Colorado power play and their own seemed to have dried up completely. If the Lightning can find a way to win the special teams battle again or at the very least, come out even, then they have a real shot to force a seventh game.