2004, Game Three vs. Montreal
2004 marked just the second time in the second round for the Lightning. After going up 2-0 in Tampa, the Lightning looked to advance to their first ever Eastern Conference Final as the series shifted north of the border.
Trailing 3-2 late in the third period of game three, Tampa Bay would tie the game with under a minute left to play. Montreal’s own, Vinny Lecavalier deflected a pass from Dave Andreychuk between his legs and tied the game in dramatic style to force overtime. Lecavalier’s childhood friend, Brad Richards would win the game for the Lightning just over a minute into OT, banking a rebound off José Théodore to take a 3-0 series lead in one of the great moments in franchise history.
This game proved to be one of the first truly iconic playoff games in the history of the franchise as Tampa Bay would go on to eventually earn their first second round victory and then go on to hoist their first Stanley Cup. Finishing off a sweep in Montreal made the occasion just that much greater.