TAMPA, Fla – Dwayne Roloson came up huge for the Lightning, but once again it was the Penguins who came out on top in another tight game to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Roloson made 50 saves as game four went to double overtime before James Neal, an acquisition from Dallas at the trade deadline, scored the winner for the Pens after the former Stanley Cup champions had blown a 2-0 lead during regulation.
First blood went to Pittsburgh when Tyler Kennedy, who scored the winner in game 3, opened the scoring in the first period as he netted the Penguins first powerplay goal of the series. The Pens had gone 0-for-15 through the previous three games as Dan Bylsma’s team continue life without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
Rough and tough forward Aaron Asham continued his strong post season play as he doubled the Pittsburgh lead in the second period with his third goal of the series. Asham’s hot streak is even more remarkable given he only scored 5 goals through all of the regular season!
But the Bolts were not down and out just yet, as Vincent LeCavalier’s pass set veteran winger Martin St Louis through on goal for the diminutive forward to bring the Lighting to within one and raise the St. Pete’s Time Forum back in to life with just over two minutes left in the middle frame.
Just a minute later Steven Stamkos was given an opportunity to level the game but could not even get a shot away as Paul Martin recovered to tie up the young stars stick and coral the puck harmlessly wide. Stamkos remains goalless in the series despite potting 45 during the regular season and the Tampa Bay coaching staff will need the former Sarnia Sting man to snap this cold streak if the Lightning are to get back in this series.
The home side did eventually find a way through when Sean Bergenheim stuffed the puck past Marc Andre Fleury after a scramble in front of the Pens net to send the game in to overtime.
After a goalless first overtime period, in which Roloson denied Asham a second of the night with a sprawling save, the two clubs headed in to a second 20-minute over timer period.
But it took Pittsburgh just over three and a half minutes to find a winner, when Neal’s shot from just inside the boards which squeaked past the otherwise impeccable Roloson to wrap up the victory for the Penguins and leave them within one win of progressing to the Conference semi-finals.
Pittsburgh will certainly be looking to wrap things up on home ice on Saturday when the two sides meet in game 5 at the Consol Energy Centre.
Contact the author: rob.mcgregor@prohockeynews.com
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