PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Tampa Bay completed a stunning comeback on Wednesday night, rebounding from a 3-1 series deficit to knock the Pittsburgh Penguins out of the 2011 play-offs in their own rink.
Veteran goaltender Dwayne Roloson was the hero again as he recorded his second career play-off shut out as he turned away all 36 shots the Pens fired at him, including 14 in the final period, whilst Sean Bergenheim’s second period goal proved to be the difference in the seventh game of the series.
The loss represented the first time Pittsburgh have lost three game in a row since late 2009, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time. After shutting out the Bolts in game 1, the Pens also won games 3 and 4 and looked to be on course to progress to round 2 of the play-offs despite being without stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
But Guy Boucher’s Tampa side found their scoring touch in game 5 to stave off elimination, blowing the Penguins away in an 8-2 win in Pittsburgh with Steven Stamkos adding both his first and second play-off goals to keep his team in the series.
A 4-2 win on home ice in Florida ensured the Lightning would force a game 7 and when Sean Bergenheim beat Marc Andre Fleury 5 minutes in to the second period the come back was complete.
The Lightning are now set to take on Washington in round 2, and will be hoping that their penalty kill is effective against the Capitals powerhouse offence as it was against the Penguins, holding the Pens powerplay to just 1 goal in 35 chances through the series.
Game 1 of the second round faces off in Washington on Friday.
Contact the author: rob.mcgregor@prohockeynews.com
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