In Edmonton, the Tampa Bay Lightning got a power play goal from Kevin Shattenkirk early in extra time to give them a 5-4 win in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final and a 3-1 series lead over the Dallas Stars.
“(After the game) it was laser focus,” Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. “They came here to do something and they’re on their way, but like we’ve said all along, we haven’t won anything yet, and they truly believe that. They know what it takes to win a series. We’ve still got to win one more, and we’re not taking anything for granted.”
Andrei Vasilevskiy made 26 saves to get the win.
Brayden Point scored twice for Tampa.
“I think all of our focus is on recovering right now, getting ready for the next one,” Point said. “Back-to-backs, it’s not too often you get them. But I think right now our focus is on just recovering, preparing, watching video, seeing what we can do for the next one.”
Joe Pavelski struck twice for the Stars.
“It’s playoffs, overtime, you expect 5-on-5, you expect to battle it out,” Pavelski said. “We got a call against, it’s unfortunate, but it doesn’t change our mindset. We thought there was a good chance this would be a long series. We have to do a job and extend it now.”
Game 5 is set for Saturday evening.
Yanni Gourde and Alex Killorn had single markers for the Bolts.
“Our team’s been playing really well,” Killorn said. “I probably haven’t scored as much as I’d like to, but when your teammates score every other night, you don’t really worry about those types of things. You’re just worried about winning. But to get that one tonight felt really good.”
John Klingberg and Corey Perry potted goals for Dallas.
“It’s an unfortunate way to lose that game the way we battled back,” Stars coach Rick Bowness said. “I’m proud of the way we played tonight. … We’ll bounce back. I have full faith in our hockey club.”
[WATCH:Â All Lightning vs. Stars highlights]
Anton Khudobin made 30 saves in the loss.
In a comment that ought to be used a definition of irony, Tyler Sequin dropped a big one.
“We would’ve won if we would’ve gotten everything out of everybody, I think,” Seguin said. “We’ve got a quick turnaround. I believe in this team, believe in the boys. We have another level here, so the quick turnaround’s going to be nice.”
This from the guy who has disappeared from the Dallas scoresheet in the Cup Final. Two assists in Game 4 are hardly enough to start casting blame around a locker room in need of offense from the front lines.
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