NHL

Boston Bruins at Tampa Bay Lightning

· EAST 2nd ROUND - Game 5
<span id="gameStatus" class="badge bg-danger" style="font-size: 1.2em; margin: 5px 0;">Final</span>
2 - 3

Hedman's goal gives Lightning 3-2 win over Bruins in 2nd OT

Victor Hedman scored with 5:50 left in the second overtime to give the Lightning a 3-2 victory over the Boston Bruins, ending their best-of-seven, second-round playoff series in five games on Monday night.

The Tampa Bay defenseman beat goaltender Jaroslav Halak from the left circle, scoring off a pass from Brayden Point.

The resilient Lightning outshot the team with the league's best record during the regular season 7-1 in the second OT, improving to 5-0 in overtime games in this year's playoffs.

"We know what we want," Hedman said. "We're not taking no for an answer."

David Krejci's goal at 17:27 of the third period wiped out a 2-1 lead that Anthony Cirelli gave the Lightning when he redirected Hedman's shot past Halak with just under eight minutes remaining in regulation.

Krejci, limited to one point in the first four games of the series, also assisted on David Pastrnak's power-play goal in the second period for Boston, which was left wondering might have been if the season had not been put on pause in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"It was definitely a unique experience, playing in a bubble and no fans," Boston's Patrice Bergeron said.

"I also believe with the turn of events with the pause and stuff going on in the world bigger than hockey ... once we got back here it wasn't the same as a normal season. It just wasn't," Cassidy said, adding that wasn't an excuse for the second-round result.

Cassidy said it was too soon to talk about possible changes to the roster going forward, including whether veteran defensemen Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug return next season.

"I don't want to speculate if will be their last game. Those are decisions that will be made by the players and management. ... Both are great Boston Bruins, and we'll see what happens down the line."

Vezina Trophy finalist Andrei Vasilevskiy had 45 saves and Ondrej Palat scored his fifth goal in four games for Tampa Bay, which is back in the East finals after being swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round in 2019.

"It's a great feeling to win the first two rounds, especially after last year," said Vasilevskiy, who stopped 147 of 157 shots in the series.

Halak, who allowed 11 goals over the previous three games, stopped 32 of 35 shots.

The Lightning played without reigning MVP Nikita Kucherov for most of the night, losing him for the final seven minutes of the opening period after Boston defenseman Zdeno Chara drew a 4-minute double minor penalty for high-sticking the Tampa Bay star.

Game notes
Boston has a power-play goal in every game of the series. ... With Kucherov off the ice, Tampa Bay failed to get off a single shot during its 4-minute power play in the opening period. ... Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh returned to the lineup after missing Games 2, 3 and 4 due to injury. ... The Bruins played without injured forwards Sean Kuraly, Chris Wagner and Nick Ritchie.

UP NEXT

Tampa Bay awaits the winner of the series between the New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers, which the Islanders lead 3-1.

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Regular Season Series

TB wins series 3-1

Scoring Summary

Goal 2nd Period 4:21
Goal 2nd Period 12:38
Goal 3rd Period 12:03
Goal 3rd Period 17:27
Goal 5 14:10

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/bos.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originBOS https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/tb.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originTB
34 Blocked Shots 35
53 Hits 56
4 Takeaways 5
47 Shots 35
1 Power Play Goals 0
4 Power Play Opportunities 4
25.0 Power Play Percentage 0.0
0 Short Handed Goals 0
0 Shootout Goals 0
38 Faceoffs Won 56
40.4 Faceoff Win Percent 59.6
21 Giveaways 12
3 Total Penalties 4
8 Penalty Minutes 8
Tampa Bay Lightning Tampa Bay Lightning Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Pontus Holmberg, RW Out May 5
Boston Bruins Boston Bruins Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Charlie McAvoy, D Suspension May 12
Viktor Arvidsson, LW Out May 3
Nikita Zadorov, D Out May 2
Dans Locmelis, C Out Feb 28

Game Information

Scotiabank Arena

Location: Toronto, ON
Capacity:

2025-26 Atlantic Division Standings

TEAM W L PTS OTL
<img src="https://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/buf.png" style="padding: 0 4px; width: 25px; vertical-align: inherit;">Buffalo 50 23 109 9
<img src="https://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/tb.png" style="padding: 0 4px; width: 25px; vertical-align: inherit;">Tampa Bay 50 26 106 6
<img src="https://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/mtl.png" style="padding: 0 4px; width: 25px; vertical-align: inherit;">Montreal 48 24 106 10
<img src="https://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/bos.png" style="padding: 0 4px; width: 25px; vertical-align: inherit;">Boston 45 27 100 10
<img src="https://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/ott.png" style="padding: 0 4px; width: 25px; vertical-align: inherit;">Ottawa 44 27 99 11
<img src="https://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/det.png" style="padding: 0 4px; width: 25px; vertical-align: inherit;">Detroit 41 31 92 10
<img src="https://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/fla.png" style="padding: 0 4px; width: 25px; vertical-align: inherit;">Florida 40 38 84 4
<img src="https://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/tor.png" style="padding: 0 4px; width: 25px; vertical-align: inherit;">Toronto 32 36 78 14
Full Standings